Terrorism is not Islamic, says minister

By Tom Gwebayanga
 
KAMULI - The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Haji Asuman Kiyingi has distanced Ugandan Muslims from the atrocities being committed by the Al-Shabaab.

According to him, such acts are not Muslim-oriented and should not be labeled as holy wars to promote Islam.
 
Kiyingi quoted the Koran saying when Prophet Muhammed executed his Jihad (Holy wars), he never attacked innocent, unarmed people but was successful in spreading Islam.
 
“I condemn the acts in Nairobi, where the Al-Shabab mercilessly massacred unarmed, innocent citizens in the guise of promoting Islam,” Kiyingi said on Monday.

He was at Masjid Irka-Butabaala Mosque in Kitayunjwa sub-county in Kamuli where he commissioning the new mosque that was constructed by the Kamuli Good Hope Education Foundation and Social Development, an Arab funded NGO.
 
“The “lumiramwoyos” [terrorists] are not God sent. You cannot claim lives and say you’re promoting Allah’s mission and i call upon Imams to be keen with strangers,” Kiyingi, the MP for Bugabula South in Kamuli district said.

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Minister Kiyingi signs in the visitors book at Masjid Ikra-Butabaala. PHOTO/Tom Gwebayanga

 Kiyingi said the Koran terms such acts as “barbaric” and urged Muslims to use peaceful approaches to lure converts adding,"Al-Shabaab militants attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi and killed over 70 people but had earlier hired a room in the Mall before the attack so checking strangers is paramount."  
 
Kamuli District Kadhi, Sheikh Ismail Musa Swabiri Kazibwe hailed Good Hope Foundation for addressing the challenge of shelter at places of worship.

Last week Al-Shabaab militants attacked West Gate Mall in Nairobi and killed over 70 people
 
“Good Hope has built over 120 mosques in Kamuli, a tantamount peaceful approach and I am really humbled,” Kazibwe said.
 
Sheikh Hussein Mwase, the Director of Kamuli Good Hope, urged Muslims to exploit the NGO’s and government opportunities to cope with modernity in terms of education to shrug off the hype that Muslims are the least educated.