Let me just leave this one here while I scan for more news. Oh dear. ----------------------- Chants of “Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar…” filled Nakawa court yesterday, as Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga was charged with murder. The head of the Tabliq Muslim sect faces five murder counts, including last month’s killing of Muslim clerics Mustafa Bahiga and Kadir Muwaya, and the attempted murder of Sheikh Haruna Jjemba. Arrested on Tuesday night, Kamoga was charged with his brother Multadtha Bukenya, Hakeem Kinene, Mazamiru Kasawuli, Arafat Serunjogi, Badru Bukenya, Alex Okot, Joseph Olanya, Amir Kinene, Aisha Nakasibante, Charles Okidi and Sheikh Kalungi Fahad. The 12 were also charged with terrorism, crimes against humanity, two counts of murder and attempted murder. As the charges were read amid tight security, the suspects’ air-punching followers defiantly chanted “Allah Akbar” (God is great). The suspects, however, were not allowed to take plea since the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case, which was adjourned to January 29. As the suspects were driven off to Luzira prison, some of their relatives who had ealier shown defiance broke down and cried. The 12 join the five sheikhs Siraje Kawooya, Rashid Jjingo, Abdu Salam Ssekayanja, Twaha Ssekito and Yusuf Kakande who were charged on January 19 with the same counts. Kamoga family speaks Kamoga’s relatives told The Observer yesterday that the way he was arrested shined a bright light on government’s lack of democratic credentials. “They shouldn’t grab him on his way back home at night at 11pm and arrest him without even summoning him to police. The people killing Muslims use government guns, why can’t they trace the origin of those guns to get the real culprits other than arresting people anyhow,” said Kamoga’s son Nabil Isihak Ibrahim. Speaking in Masindi on Tuesday, police chief Kale Kayihura told journalists that the murders were the subject of a serious investigation. “When we pick whoever we pick, it’s not by random; we don’t even know which factions they belong to. It’s based on evidence given to intelligence,” he said. Kayihura said they had so far arrested 28 people in connection with the murder of the clerics. Nabil, a student of Namagoma Abud-Rahman Islamic Institute, also complained that on Wednesday, the police had forcibly searched the Kamoga residence in Kawempe-Tula, without a search warrant. “When they came home, they chased us outside and started searching the whole house and the compound while moving with our father who was handcuffed and not allowed to say anything,” Nabil said. The manner of Kamoga’s arrest is reported to have shocked his wife. “When the doctors measured her pressure yesterday (Thursday) it was too high and she was advised not to talk to anybody until she has recovered. She can’t feed, sleep nor speak,” said Kamoga’s daughter Shamim Isihak. Nabil said the police took away Kamoga’s two passports, Qura’n CDs, mobile phone and other documents. Kamoga’s arrest came just a few hours after police picked up his brother Sheikh Bukenya and Fahad Ddungu. According to Kayihura, the killing of clerics is an organized crime. “This is a terrorist campaign of assassinations. And from our intelligence this campaign is not restricted to only Muslim clerics but it’s supposed to spread to other personalities. We are investigating another terrorist group that we will not disclose at this stage,” he said. dkiyonga@gmail [email protected] observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36062:-kamoga-charged-with-sheikhs-murder&catid=34:news&Itemid=114
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 05:07:44 +0000
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