We Are Not Arresting Muslims for Their Beliefs, But for Terror Acts

Security forces have reiterated that they are not arresting Muslims for their religious beliefs but because they are terror suspects. Military and police intelligence agencies have arrested dozens of Muslims in the ongoing crackdown on terrorists linked to the Allied Democratic Forces -ADF, a rebel outfit that has haunted the country since the 1990s.

In the last four weeks, over 60 suspects have been arrested, and more than 90 per cent of them are Muslims. This is not the first time that Muslims have been arrested in large numbers in regard to terrorism incidents. It has been the norm whenever there is a violent crime like a murder of a prominent person or terror-related incidents.

Such actions have often left many wondering whether Muslims are indeed engaging in terror activities or whether it has become a government position to see them as the first target of every crime linked to terrorism.

However, security agencies through Senior Commissioner of Police -Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, have reiterated that they don’t arrest Muslims but they arrest terror suspects without considering their religious denomination.

“We want to reiterate that all persons arrested are not targeted for their beliefs, ideology, religion, but are definitely pursued for their acts of conspiracy and hostile engagement that are in total breach of the law, peace and safety of Ugandans,” Enanga said.

Between 2012 and 2021, there have been horrendous shootings to death of prominent Muslim clerics, security gurus and politicians. The latest victim of gun violence targeting prominent persons was Charles Ogwang, the Bukwo district chief administrative officer. Ogwang’s murder came a year after Uganda’s works and transport minister, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, who survived death in a volley of ammunition on June 1st, 2021.

Although Gen Katumba survived with bullet wounds, his daughter Brenda Nantongo and his official driver Sgt Haruna Kayondo did not survive the bullets. Some of the prominent persons whose lives have been exterminated using a gun barrel include Assistant Inspector General of Police -AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi who was killed on March 17, 2017, Assistant Superintendent of Police -ASP Muhammad Kirumira who was killed on September 8, 2018, Major Humannad Kiggundu who was killed on November 16, 2016, State Prosecutor Joan Kagezi killed in 2015, Sheikh Hassan Kirya, Sheikh Abdul Muwaya, Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga and Legislator Ibrahim Abiriga.  

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Security says terror attacks and hostilities against Ugandans are from a known enemy, the ADF, whose aim is to promote fear and panic in the public. Enanga said security forces have been monitoring all spaces in homes, and places of worship which are acting as domains for recruitment and collection centres, for children who are introduced to ideological messages and beliefs.

“We are now interviewing and counselling the victims and gathering further information on the alleged disappearance of other children from the camp, to an unknown place. Arrangements are also in place to re-integrate and reunite them, with their parents, guardians and relatives,” Enanga said.

Forces have informed Ugandans that terrorists and violent extremist groups, use forced and brutal recruitment of large numbers of children. The mode of recruiting children into terrorism according to forces includes kidnap, abduction, coercing through threats or purchased from traffickers.

Enanga said children living in poverty, without parental care, and street children are particularly vulnerable to forcible recruitment campaigns. Sometimes recruitment is done based on ties between the terrorist group and particular communities; especially when the group is perceived as one that is defending the interests and groups of that particular community against threats, they may encourage children to join the group.

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