Kamoga was determined to kill sheikhs - witness
What you need to know:
- The case involves 14 men, who are accused of being behind the wave of killings of top Muslim clerics in the country two years ago.
- The alleged crimes happened between December 2013 and June 2015 in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.
Kampala. A state witness on Thursday told court that remanded leader of the Tabliq Sect, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga, intimated to him that he was ready to kill someone rather than surrender his position as Kampala Amir.
The 22nd prosecution witness, Yasiin Kakomo, explained to the International Crimes Division of the High Court (ICD) that death vows by Sheikh Kamoga were a spillover of Muslim wrangles and disunity that happened in 2013, when a section of Muslims called for the resignation of Kamoga as Kampala Amir.
Mr Kakomo, a preacher of Islam, added that following the factions that arose, he mediated to have the parties calm down but in vain with Sheikh Kamoga assuring him that he is ready to kill someone.
The witness informed court that Sheikh Kamoga asked him to talk to the late Sheikh Mustafar Bahiga, Ibrahim Hassan Kirya and Muhamood Kibate, whom he referred to as “hard people” to leave his Amir leadership.
“I was so surprised just after a month to hear that a Muslim in Bahiga’s group was beaten and handcuffed. I went back to Sheikh Kamoga, who asked me to come back after a week saying he was disturbed by Bahiga’s group which he was not going to tolerate,” Mr Kakomo, who is also a trader in Masaka Town, told court.
“Kamoga told me that if it is to shed blood, I will kill them, they are joking even if it is during day time, I can kill,” he added.
Court also heard that shortly after the death of Sheikhs Bahiga and Kirya, Mr Kakomo began receiving threatening messages and calls.
But Mr Kakomo’s testimony on receiving threatening calls was challenged by the defence team that saw the panel of three justices led by Ezekiel Muhanguzi order the prosecution to back his testimony with the phone printouts from the telephone operators.
The hearing was then adjourned to January 11 next year for cross-examination of the witness.
The case
The case involves 14 men, who are accused of being behind the wave of killings of top Muslim clerics in the country two years ago.
Some of the killed clerics include; Sheikh Bahiga, who was gunned down at Bwebajja mosque along Entebbe Road and Sheikh Kirya, who was gunned down in Bweyogerere, Wakiso District.
The suspects are also accused of threatening to kill Buganda Prince Kassim Nakibinge and Dr Haruna Jemba
The alleged crimes happened between December 2013 and June 2015 in Kampala and Wakiso Districts.
