Lawyers seek apology from Gen Lokech over anti-Muslim statements

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Muslim Lawyers Association has asked the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Major General Paul Lokech to apologize over the statements he made linking them to Allied Democratic Forces -ADF.

Maj Gen Lokech was quoted saying that those who have been involved in assassinations around the country are all members of the Allied Democratic Forces-ADF, an organization which according to him is a collection of Muslims. “You can never join that organization if you are not a Muslim. If you are a Christian, they will convert you to Islam,” he said.

The statement came up after the arrest of 12 suspects in the attempted murder of Gen Edward Katumba Wamala in June. In relation to the arrests, Lokech emphasized that all the arrested suspects were Muslims. But lawyer Nalukoola Luyimbazi told journalists in Kampala that Lokech’s statement means that ADF and Islam are synonymous and when you see Islam, you have seen ADF.

He explains that they are now scared as Muslims to the extent that when a high profile murder happens in the country, whoever has a Muslim son has to call them to return home very fast for fear that they could be arrested thinking that they are one of the suspects.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Lawyers Association Saudah Nsereko told journalists that the statement was reckless and aimed at promoting hate against Muslims.

Speaking at the same press conference, the publicity secretary of the association Mahmoud Kakeeto disassociated Muslims from Allied Democratic Forces and said that individual crimes should never be blamed on the entire religion. The lawyers now want Major General Lokech to retract his words and also issue an apology to the Muslim fraternity

They add that in the event that they fail to get an apology, they will file an application to investigate the circumstances under which the four of the arrested suspects were killed and another to discharge those in prison on grounds of having been tortured to confess to crimes.

*****

URN