Police blocks National Juma prayers at Kololo grounds

Police has blocked the planned national Juma prayers that were set to be held at the Kololo independence grounds today.

Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala and his Kampala Central Division counterpart Muhammad Nsereko who are coordinating the prayers wrote to the Inspector General of Police on December 28, 2018 asking for clearance to hold prayers for Muslims who have been arrested and tortured by security agencies.

However, in a press statement by the police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the prayers that were scheduled to happen today Friday, January 18 have been blocked because the organisers didn’t seek clearance from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.

“This is to inform the general public and in particular members of the Muslim community who were intending to participate in the national Juma special prayers at Kololo independence grounds today Friday January 18 that the prayers will not take place after it was established that the religious gathering was not cleared by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, the supreme body legally mandated to oversee all activities under Islamic faith in Uganda,” said Enanga in the statement.

According to Police, organisers have been asked to secure another date after harmonizing with UMSC and warned them against proceeding with the event without clearance from security.

“We want to reassure members of the Muslim community and the public at large that all prayers on the Muslim calendar will proceed without any hindrance."

Muslim MPs for the second time in December wrote to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defense asking for the provision of the Kololo ceremonial grounds for the National Juma Prayers.

The MPs were forced to write for a second time after being informed that the grounds had been booked for January 11 the date they had initially wanted to hold the event.

During the prayers, names of all Muslims who have been tortured, arrested or gone missing at the hands of security agencies  are set to be revealed.

.