Arrested Sheikhs charged with murder

The suspects wave to their loved ones at Nakawa Magistrates Court after being charged with murder and terrorism. They were remanded to Luzira prison. PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA

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Sheikhs charged with five counts including murder of two Muslim clerics.

Kampala. Sheikhs who were recently arrested in Kampala have been remanded to Luzira prison after being charged with five counts including the recent murder of two Muslim clerics.
The five suspects, Sheikh Ssiraje Kawooya, Sheikh Rashid Jjingo, Sheikh Abdu Salam Ssekayanja, Sheikh Twaha Ssekito and Sheikh Yusuf Kakande were yesterday brought to Nakawa Magistrates Court aboard two heavily guarded pick up trucks.
The sheikhs, who have been in police custody for more than two weeks, were charged with terrorism, crimes against humanity, two counts of murder and another count of attempted murder.
The suspects’ relatives who had been waiting at court broke into tears upon seeing them. Court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Timothy Lumunye heard that the suspects allegedly shot and killed Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga at Bwebajja Mosque on Entebbe Road and the Shiite leader, Sheikh Abdul Qadr Muwaya, at his home in Mayuge District on different days last month.
They were also charged with another count of attempted murder of Sheikh Jemba Haruna.
However, Court could not hear their case because investigations are not yet complete. They were remanded until January 29, when they will reappear in court for further mention of the case.
The defence lawyer, Mr Twaha Mayanja, said the nature in which his clients (suspects) had been brought to court was illegal.
“They were brought to court without informing us. I did not also get the charge sheet on which the particulars of the offence were written,” said Mr Mayanja.

muslim leader calls for unity
Last week the Tabliq Muslim sect Amir (leader), Sheikh Muhammad Kamoga called on all the Muslim factions in the country to set aside their differences and unanimously call to an end on the terror against their community. Sheikh Kamoga, was addressing a news conference at Nakasero mosque, when he said it was unfortunate that Muslims are silent on matters affecting them as citizens in the country. “It is very unfortunate that we [Muslims] are quiet and simply engaging in premeditated differences, when the enemy is striking hard on us. We need to unite our voice and put government to task to stop the terror against Muslims community, because currently it is taking advantage of our weaknesses to mismanage the terror on us,” Mr Kamoga said. Mr Kamoga’s call came after police admitted to having arrested and detained the five sheikhs who had been reported missing under mysterious circumstances.