Muslim leaders in the Greater Luwero have accused security operatives of deliberately targeting their followers in acts of terrorism.
The remarks were made at a meeting organized at Luwero Islamic Primary School to sensitize Muslim leaders under the Kibuli faction in Greater Luwero on countering terrorism, radicalism, extremism, and promoting social-economic transformation.
Muslims and their leaders in attendance criticized the government for constantly linking Islam to terrorism and arresting suspects without due diligence.
Other leaders led by Imam Jumah Ntume of Busiika Masjid Taqwa condemned the brutal and selective arrests of Muslims without concrete evidence to implicate them.
They also asked those arrested to be prosecuted in courts of law without undergoing torture if there is evidence pinning them.
The former Deputy Chairperson of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC, Alhajji Abdul Nadduli, explained that some Muslim leaders are arrested over family and property wrangles and illegally connected to terrorism.
He asked security personnel to consult local leaders and conduct thorough investigations before arresting Muslims, saying these operations taint the government’s image.
However Otafiire denied that the government was linking Islam to terrorism.
Otafiire said that security personnel won’t arrest non-Muslims without any case for the sake of balancing the suspects linked to terrorism.
“Being Muslim doesn’t mean you are a terrorist, and you should be coerced into doing terrorism activities because you are Muslim, as for security operatives, they don’t go to communities arresting and targeting only Muslims, It is law breakers we target. So are Besigye, Bobi Wine or Erias Lukwago Muslims? But we arrest them because they are law breakers.” he explained
Several Imams and Muslims have been arrested from Luwero district since this year began for their alleged links to terror-related activities.
The most recent incident occurred when joint police and military team raided a hill at Kireku village in Luwero district in June this year and forcefully disbanded a group of 70 Muslim converts claiming that they were being radicalized.
In the same month, security raided the home of Umar Kabonge Ajobe, a resident of Kikubajinja zone in Luwero town claiming that he was using it to assemble bombs to terrorize Kampala city. Ajobe and two others who were arrested for their alleged links to the rebel Allied Democratic Forces are still locked up in an unknown facility.