Man caught stealing shoes at mosque

KAMPALA - Police in Kampala have arrested a man caught trying to make away with stolen shoes at Nakasero Mosque.

The suspect, named as Abdul Hakiim Matovu, was intercepted by Muslims who were standing guard at the mosque during night prayers.

This was Monday night as he tried to slip away with a new pair of shoes belonging to of the resident Muslims.

Before police was called in, the leader at the mosque Sheikh Yusuf Musuda called for calm as some angry people tried to attack the suspect.

He said lynching Matovu is illegal.

"My brothers and sisters, please be patient. That's what our religion tells us," he told the chanting crowd.

Asked why he was stealing in a place of worship, Matovu bluntly said he is not a thief but he was only revenging because his expensive shoes were also once stolen in the same area.

He pleaded for forgiveness, claiming he is homeless and sleeps on Kampala streets.

He said "my poor mother" would not bail him out of prison if he was to be jailed.

Matovu was found with eight police bond statements, several identity cards and passport photos of different people, letters of prayers from popular born-again churches in the city, among other things.

Police was called and upon arrival, the officer in charge of Nakasero Police Post Francis Liga asked the suspect what had happened and got a confession in return.

Before the suspect was taken into custody, OC Liga thanked Muslim leaders at Nakasero for not lynching the man and urged them to increase vigilance and security especially during prayers.

"We have many cases of Muslims who have lost their property whenever they go for prayers in mosques, such as shoes, laptops, phones and other valuables. This is all as a result of laxity in security at the mosques. We urge them to seek police help where need be."