Police release Sheikh Mwanje after MPs threaten to protest
Left to right: Members of the Muslim parliamentary caucus Mr Hassan Kirumira (Katikamu South), Mr Abdul Mutumba (Kiboga West), Mr Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality), Mr Muwada Nkunyingi (Kyadondo East), and Mr Abudallah Kiwanuka (Mukono North), during a press conference at Parliament on December 5, 2022. PHOTO/DAVID LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- The government says he was helping the police in investigations related to terrorism.
Sheikh Ramathan Yahaya Mwanje, the deputy head of the Nakasero-based Muslim Tabliq sect, has been released on bond after nearly a week in police custody.
This comes a day after members of the Muslim Parliamentary caucus threatened to stage protests if the government continues to hold their members incommunicado.
They questioned the disappearances and illegal detention of citizens, many of whom were picked up before, during and after the January 2021 presidential elections and are still missing to date.
While addressing journalists at Parliament on Monday, the MPs led by Mr Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality) said they would sue the government and all security personnel linked to the arrests and disappearances of their Muslim counterparts.
Sheikh Mwanje was on November 28, picked up by unidentified armed men in civilian attire from Nakasero mosque. He was then bundled into a Toyota van, locally known as a drone, and driven to an unknown location.
Two days after Sheikh Mwanje’s disappearance, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen David Muhoozi, told Parliament that the Muslim cleric was being held at one of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) detention centres and is helping the police in investigations related to terrorism.
Members of the Nakasero-based Muslim Tabliq sect expressed joy over the release of Sheikh Mwanje and thanked God that he was unharmed and in good health at the time of his release.
Sheikh Mwanje informed journalists that he will address the country extensively on the situation of his arrest during Friday’s Juma prayers.
Sheikh Mwanje was picked up shortly before former presidential candidate and leader of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party, Mr Joseph Kabuleta, was also arrested from his offices in Bugolobi, Kampala in a similar manner.
Mr Kabuleta was arrested for allegedly promoting sectarianism and is on remand at Luzira prison.
He will, on Wednesday next week, appear before the Nakawa Magistrates Court for his bail hearing.
