Mayor Mulyanyama lashes out at Minister Otafiire over prolonged detention of Muslims

Makindye division mayor, Mr Ali Mulyanyama, a National Unity Platform party member on Idd Adha condemned the brutality used by security personnel while arresting Muslims suspects.

Speaking at the Eid Al Adha prayers held yesterday at Nakivubo blue primary school, Mr. Mulyanyama urged the guest of honor also internal affairs minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire to ensure timely justice is served to the Muslims who are in prison on various charges.

“We have seen Muslims being brutalized by armed forces who cannot even be identified since they are not in uniform in some cases. Muslims like all other people are good people and not armed. Why do we see excessive force being used in the process of arresting the suspects,” Mr Mulyanyama questioned.

“Honourable minister [Kahinda Otafiire], the number of Muslims in the prisons is worrying. Our request is that these people are given timely justice like other Ugandans,” he added. 

In his defense, Minister Otafiire claimed government is not Islamophobic but rather goes after wrong elements who misrepresent the Holy Quran.

“All religions are good, but there are bad people within these religions. Who says Muslims are terrorists? Is Joseph Konny a Muslim? Or was Lakwena a Muslim?” Gen Otafiire queried.

“Government is not against the Muslims, but against the bad Muslims who do not understand or misinterpret the Quran. This is the reason we have people of all religions in the prison, because there are bad Muslims, Catholics, Anglicans and Adventists, among others,” he added.