Iganga Muslims decry arrests by security agencies on trumped up charges
By Teven Kibumba
Muslim leaders in Iganga are demanding that government apologizes to the faithful over the frequent arrest of Muslims by security personnel over issues that have not been investigated.
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The Muslim leaders said the frequent arrests of their colleagues is scaring them away from freely expressing their right to worship.
The NRM chairman for Iganga Hajji Abubaker Walubi while speaking to thousands of Muslims who turned up for Idd el fitri prayers at Iganga municipal primary school today said majority of Muslims hailing from Iganga district have been arrested especially during the holy month of Ramadan and detained in different army barracks on charges of terrorism or collaborating with ADF rebels.
“Many of our colleagues are hiding in bushes during day time and only come out when its night time,”he said
Walubi said they are asking security to release one of the elderly Muslims Sheikh Mohamed Affan the proprietor of Uthman Bin Affan Muslim school located in Nakalama trading center who was detained at Maga Maga barracks in Jinja.
He said they were shocked when the intelligence officer one Captain Denis Mugisha forced them to dance and sing accusing them of being rebel collaborators.
“I felt so embarrassed to be made look like a little boy just because am trying to save one of our own,”he said
He said the accused had earlier rang the intelligence officer to come to their rescue after losing several of his goats, cows and household properties to some unknown people who broke into his school premises during late night hours.
“Instead the person who was complaining was the one being arrested and charged for threatening to kidnap and murder the army officer who arrested him."
Walubi urged Muslims not to be intimidated whenever summoned by security personnel but always respond since Islam is not a religion of wrongdoers.
“These Muslim schools Madarasa people think are training rebels have nurtured people become role models in society by teaching them basics of Islam," he said.
The municipal Khadi Sheikh Khalid Babugge expressed concern over the huge number of court cases arising from people claiming to be relatives of former owners of land who had donated it to Muslims for construction of mosques.
Babugge cautioned politicians against tarnishing the image of others in order to solve their selfish ends, saying they risk being sued before courts of law.
Thousands of Muslims braved the early morning sunshine to attend Idd el fitri prayers led by the district Khadi Iganga Sheikh Sinani Muwanika.
Muwanika urged Muslims to remain peaceful even after the Ramadan fasting season instead of engaging in bad habits like drunkenness, fornication or adultery which is against the teachings of Islam.
