Division has developed among Muslim leaders in the Luwero district over the meeting that has been called to sensitize them on radicalism, extremism, and promote social-economic transformation.
The meeting organized by Hajji Musa Lukandwa in conjunction with the Greater Luwero Muslim Chairman Hajji Musa Kakande is scheduled to take place at Luwero Islamic Primary School on Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 with Internal Affairs Minister, General Kahinda Otafiire as chief guest.
Luwero District Kadhi Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa has however issued a notice to all County Sheikhs and their followers not to attend the meeting, saying it is not beneficial to them.
According to Mulindwa, in February this year, the same group organized a similar message at Kasana UMEA Playground but to date the government has not addressed any of the issues raised on that day.
He noted that such meetings are organized by some individuals to get money from a government and not to address the issues affecting Muslims. He also questions why the meeting has been organized without consulting the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC or his office.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Sayyid Nyanzi, the Zirobwe County Sheikh, says that he received an invitation to attend and mobilise Imams among other leaders to attend the said meeting. He, however, noted that he decided to opt out after learning that the organizers didn’t use structures of UMSC.
The Secretary for Kalagala County Abdulmalik Kisitu, also questioned why the meeting intended to sensitize them on counter-terrorism targets only Muslims and not members of other religious denominations. Kisitu says that such meetings create wrong perceptions about Muslims, adding that he won't attend it
However, Hajji Musa Lukandwa insists that despite the notice by Kadhi, the meeting will go on as planned. Adding that the Kadhi is bitter because he is not among the organizers and that the meeting is being spearheaded by a rival faction in his area.
He adds that the Kadhi also fears that Muslims in Luwero may report him to Otafiire for allegedly establishing a market on their land without consulting them. Lukandwa explained that the meeting is called in a wake of insecurity in the area which includes attacks on Policemen, arrests of Imams and Muslims at Walusi hill among others.