Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the titular head of the Muslim community in Uganda, has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to investigate the killing of seven people in Butambala, warning that the continued incarceration of area MP Muwanga Kivumbi bears the hallmarks of a political “witch-hunt.”
Speaking to thousands of believers during Eid al-Fitr prayers at Kibuli Mosque on March 20, 2026, Nakibinge questioned the transparency of the state’s legal processes and urged the newly appointed DPP, Lino Anguzu, to interrogate how police have handled evidence in the case.
“Why hasn’t anybody been charged for the loss of lives in Butambala? Was this a setup?” Prince Nakibinge asked during the Eid feast at his residence.
“We need to know who owns the gun shells of the bullets that gunned down seven individuals. If the police cannot provide these answers, it leaves us with the conclusion that the MP is being framed.”
His remarks reflected wider concerns about the use of the justice system in the aftermath of the recent election cycle.
Nakibinge urged authorities to expedite stalled case files and release individuals who remain in detention without trial.
“Elections come and go, but justice must prevail for all,” he said. “There is no reason for this state of war and anarchy. Let the investigators do their work thoroughly and be fair to everyone.”
The prayers, which began at 9:00am under heavy police and military deployment, also provided a platform for religious leaders to speak out on social and economic concerns, particularly the plight of urban traders.
Supreme Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Galabuzi criticised what he described as “inhumane” treatment of traders by Kampala’s leadership, pointing to recent demolitions and loss of property.
“I call on our leaders to be compassionate toward those they serve,” he said. “The leadership in Kampala must be humane and sensitive to the lives and property of the people.”
The day’s main preacher, Sheikh Ishac Mutengu, echoed concerns about governance and political tolerance, urging leaders to “restrain from acts of witch-hunt and the marginalization of their opponents.”
In a notable break from tradition, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago was the only political leader allowed to address the congregation.
Reflecting on his 15-year tenure, Lukwago used the occasion to bid farewell while urging incoming leaders to focus on the needs of ordinary citizens.
“I express my deepest gratitude for the support you have given my leadership over the last 15 years,” Lukwago said. “I ask the new leadership of this city to remain keen on the population’s challenges and to lead with justice.”
The Eid celebrations concluded with a call from Kibuli leadership for government compensation to victims of recent floods and a warning against normalizing what they described as “coercion and brutality” witnessed during the elections.