Gov't does not think all Muslims are terrorists - Major Gen Otafiire

He said this after Muslim leaders in Luwero district asked him to get a grip on security personnel who think terrorism and Islam are indivisible.

In the past, a number of Muslims have been arrested in Luwero district, especially since the year began, for their alleged links to terrorism.

A group of Muslims, in collaboration with the Office of the President, convened a meeting at Luwero Islamic Primary School to sensitise Muslim leaders allied to the Kibuli faction in Greater Luwero on countering terrorism, radicalism, extremism, and promote social-economic transformation.

The meeting was attended by Internal Affairs Minister General Kahinda Otafiire, who was the chief guest.

During the meeting, Muslim leaders told Otafiire that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism, arguing that security personnel seem to think otherwise by targeting Muslims when combating terrorism in Luwero.

Hajji Musa Kakande, the Chairperson of the Greater Luwero Muslim district, told Otafiire that even though non-Muslims in Uganda and other countries commit acts of terror, Muslims are always the prime suspects of such crimes.

Abdul Kadir Kizza, the Greater Luwero Kadhi under the Kibuli faction, told Otafiire that families are living in pain over the arrest of their children on alleged terror activities.

Alhajji Abdul Nadduli, the former Deputy Chairperson of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, said that some Imams are arrested over family and property wrangles which are wrongly attributed to terrorism.

He asked security personnel to be reigned in and thorough investigations carried out before any arrests are made, adding that the government’s image is being soiled by such arbitrariness with respect to arresting Muslims.

In his response, Otafiire denied that the government was linking Islam to terrorism. He, however, asked Imams and other Muslim leaders to stop telling their followers to commit crimes in the name of their faith.