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Police arrest four for raiding mosque in Mukono

Police arrest suspects threatening to demolish a mosque in Buyuki village in Nama sub-county. URN photo

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mukono division police has arrested four suspects accused of raiding a newly built community mosque in Buyuki village in Nama sub-county with intentions of demolishing it. The Division Police Commander Ismail Kifudde and Resident District Commissioner Fatuma Ndisaba swung into action to save the mosque after receiving a call from the Kadhi Mukono District, Sheikh Saziri Lumala.

Kifudde has identified the suspects as Edward Kisitu, Joachim Lukyamuzi, Abdu Kato and Ambrose Kiconco. The four were part of over twenty youths who had cordoned off the mosque armed with machetes, spears, sticks and hoes.

The other suspects managed to get away from the scene. Police have charged the suspects with malicious damage vide SD85/16/08/2021. By the time police arrived at the mosque, the suspects had slashed bananas, coffee plantations, and cassava among others.

Kisitu who is one of the suspects in police custody claims that the mosque stands on the six acres of land belonging to his late father Damyano Mukasa. However, Sheikh Saziri Lumala says that they built the mosque on part of the land donated by Abdul Karim Ddumba who bought it at Shillings 20M.

Ddumba explains that he was initially a kibanja holder on the contested land, which he occupied for 49 years and later paid off the late Mukasa. He however says that Mukasa died before they could finalise the paperwork.

“I paid the money to the landlord to get the title. But during the COVID 19 lockdown, I received Edward Kisitu who claimed to be the owner of the land that he was the heir to the late Mukasa who was the landlord.”

Mukono Resident District Commissioner Fatuma Ndisaba has tasked Kifudde to provide security to the mosque and other property on the land. She advised the warring parties to let the court process run its course.

“I have asked the DPC to provide security and avoid the panga wielding gangs from causing insecurity here. It’s unfortunate that the divisions among the two parties have put the community mosque at stake.”

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