 Print
Uganda Muslim Imams Demand Protection
8-12-2015
Amid series of assassinations targeting Muslim imams in Uganda, two prominent Muslim scholars have urged the authorities to give them ammunition for self defence.
“While we are grateful for the armed security guards, the IGP should consider his pledge of arming us,” Sheikh Asaad Mujjasi told New Vision on Tuesday, August 11.
The call was made after some of the prominent Muslim Scholars was assassinated and several others escaped assassination attempts throughout the nation over the past two years.
One of the Muslim leaders, Sheikh Siraji Mwinyi, 63 in Nandala Zone, Rock Ward in Nakaloke Town council, got the shock of his life when a hired assassin tried to kill him at about 3:00am on Monday.
He escaped the attempt after a police man present at Mwinyi's home responded and exchanged fire with the suspect, forcing him to flee.
Sheikh Mwinyi is well known in Uganda, and he is the chairperson of the board of trustees of Wamula Islamic Centre which operates both primary and secondary schools in Nakaloke.
Mwinyi was among Muslim scholars targeted by killers and featured in a hit list which was recovered by security operatives.
“We have been giving him armed security since May 20, when Sheikh Rashid Wafula was gunned down,” Elgon Regional Police commander Jacob Opolot.
Opolot added that the police on night duty had taken cover in strategic dark spots when they overheard somebody cutting the chain link fence around the home.
"A tall huge guy crept through the opening he had created and tip toed towards the home. When the police ordered him to stop and identify himself, he took off forcing them to fire," he said.
Sheikh Mujjasi was facing the same ordeal as he escaped an assassination attempt at his home in Kireka Zone, in Nakaloke, on Tuesday.
Mujjasi is the Imam of Nakaloke mosque and director of Wamula Islamic Centre.
Ugandan Muslims comprise some 14 percent of the predominantly Christian country's 32-million population, according to the CIA Factbook.
Footnotes:
|