Kadaga asks govt to give report on Muslim killings
Mourners carry the body of Sheikh Hassan Kirya, who was gunned down in Bweyogerere on Tuesday night. PHOTO by Faiswal Kasirye
Kampala.
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has asked the government to provide details about the spate of armed killings of Muslim leaders across the country.
“The list [of murdered Sheikhs] is too long and very painful. Every Ugandan life is very important and must be protected at all corners,” Ms Kadaga, who was clad in hijab attire, said.
She was serving the Muslim fraternity at an Iftar dinner at the Parliamentary Car Parking yard on Thursday evening.
“I have already called upon government to turn things upside down to address this matter diligently and we [Parliament] expect a report in a few weeks to come,” Ms Kadaga said.
Nine sheikhs have been gunned down in less than two years, with the latest victim being Sheikh Hassan Kirya, who was gunned down in Bweyogerere, Wakiso District on Tuesday night.
The dinner, an annual event where Parliamentarians dine and wine with Muslims during Ramadhan, brought together rival Muslim leaders Sheikh Mahmood Kibaate and Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto.
Sheikh Kibaate led a delegation from Kibuli Muslim group, while Sheikh Kakeeto led the Old Kampala Mosque faction.
The event was being held for the third time since Parliament made it an annual event on its calendar in 2012.
Not satisfied
Speaking on behalf of MPs on the Muslims Parliamentary Caucus, Mr Latif Ssebagala said he was dissatisfied with the manner in which security agencies had handled the killings of sheikhs.
“The Muslim fraternity is engrossed in fear. We have already lobbied Parliament to ask government to produce a report so that Muslims understand circumstances under which their leaders are being killed,” Mr Ssebagala said at the dinner.
The guest speaker, Dr Ayub Twahirayo, advised Muslims to exercise more “restraint during this trying period.”
Killed leaders
June 30, 2015. Sheikh Hassan Kirya, gunned down in Bweyogerere.
January 6 2015. Ismail Sebugwawo killed in Mulago, Kawempe Division.
May 2015. Sheikh Abdul Rashid Wafula, gunned down at the gate of his residence in Mbale district.
December 2014. Abdu Kadir Muwaya killed in in Mayuge District.
December 28, 2014. Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga shot dead at the Bwebajja Mosque on Entebbe Road.
August 2012. Abdu Jawal Sentunga killed in Bugiri District.
August 2012. Yunus Abubaker Mudungu killed in Bugiri District.
June 2012. Abubaker Kiwewa killed in Kyanja, Kampala.
April 2012. Abdu Karim Ssentamu killed on William Street in Kampala.
