Muslim cleric abandons home over threats

KAMPALA- Weeks after two Muslim clerics escaped death by suspected assailants in Mbale District, another prominent Muslim leader in Masaka District has fled his home after numerous death threats.

Sheikh Yasin Kakomo, the custodian of Muslim properties at the Masaka District Muslim council, claims that for the last six weeks, flyers with messages threatening his life have been dropped at his restaurant on Elgin Street in Masaka Town.

Speaking to journalists at Masaka Main Mosque last weekend, Sheikh Kakomo revealed the threats delivered to him through two separate leaflets, were pushed under the door of his restaurant on July 30 and August 8.

Copies of the leaflets shown to the Daily Monitor are written in Luganda, and alert the cleric to prepare for his death.

Anonymous authors
The anonymous authors of the leaflets specifically tell him to prepare for the day he will be gunned-down. “We have the capacity to accurately trace you using our wide-spread network and finish you. Nothing in this country can frustrate our hunt for you.” one of the leaflets reads in part.

The authors accuse Mr Kakomo of being a state spy with close links to security organs and fueling Muslim leadership wrangles in Masaka among other claims, all of which he denies.
“I have been a leader for 25 years and nobody has accused me of such.” he added. Sheikh Kakomo adds the only issue he may have is his strictness in protecting Muslim properties from grabbers, something he says he cannot abandon.

“I am living under a lot of fear and I no longer sleep in my home, but I will not abandon this cause,” he added.

No police action
He said although he reported the matter to police, no action has been taken, yet he continues to receive the threats.

Sheikh Kakomo revealed that similar threats have been sent to his wife through text messages and phone calls. This, he adds, has thrown the entire family into panic.

Mr Maxwell Ogwal, the Masaka regional police commander confirmed receiving complaints from sheikh Kakomo, saying they are following up the matter. He said, they had already notified the Police headquarters and were taking measures to guarantee his security, although he declined to divulge any further details.

Other threats
This comes days after another Muslim cleric in Amuru District, Sheikh Swadique Thabit Mustafa, asked government to provide him with security, citing assassination threats from rival Muslims in the district.

In July, Sheikh Hassan Kirya ,the former spokesperson for the Kibuli Muslim faction, was gunned down by unknown assailants at Bweyogere, a Kampala suburb, six months after he made similar claims.

Sheikh Kirya had earlier informed Uganda Police that he feared for his life after a number of Muslim clerics were killed in related incidents by unknown assailants.
Nine sheikhs have been gunned down in less than two years.

Police response
Police Chief Gen. Kale Kayihura has on several occasions said all the killings were being orchestrated by the Allied Democratic Force (ADF), a rebel outfit operating in Eastern part of DRC.
However, Muslim youth under the Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly, have since dismissed Kayihura’s theory of ADF killing sheikhs and prominent Muslims as mere speculation saying it is based on hearsay without carrying out systematic investigations.

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