The Government Accused of Persecuting Muslims

In the wee hours of Saturday Police raided Usafi mosque in Kisenyi downtown Kampala in the hunt for a suspect in kidnapping and murder of Suzan Magara earlier this year. Two people were shot dead and another 36 were taken into custody. "One of the key suspects whose name was not revealed to protect the investigation in the murder of the late Suzan Magara ran to Usafi mosque in Kisenyi.” JEEMA party member Hussein Kyanjo said he believed this was a campaign by security operatives to target the Muslim community. He also expressed surprise that the killing of Suzan Magara has been linked to them. “Our argument is that it is a clearing reality that if there was a major query in Uganda then the first qualification for being a suspect is being Muslim. You will not be surprised if in the prospect Muslim killers are named in the killing of Andrew Kakome Kayira, we shall not be surprised.” Said, Hussein Kyanjo – Member, Justice Forum Party.

The former MP cited several cases including the 1990’s bomb blasts, the murder of prosecutor Joan Kagezi, former Police Spokesperson Andrew Kawesi and a number of Muslim clerics whose police’s investigation reports into their killing have never been published. "Our appeal to the Museveni government is to make all that it does to Muslims officially illegal and applicable to only Muslims so that Muslims can know how to behave." Said, Hussein Kyanjo – Member, Justice Forum Party. The Police Spokesperson Emilian Kayima said Kyanjo’s claims were insincere. He also attributed the torture of some suspects to individuals and not the Police Force as an institution. “We follow the leads that point at crime. If any suspect, yes some suspects have been tortured, the individuals are held responsible and some of them have been taken to court.” Said, Emilian Kayima – Police Spokesperson. The suspects were still in custody and were yet to be produced in court more than 48 hours since they were arrested.