Police fires teargas to disperse warring Muslims
Feb 01, 2019
The group that was carrying out renovation works insists the building had to get a facelift
Police fired teargas and live bullets in the air to disperse two groups of Muslims who clashed while protesting the decision to renovate a building along the main highway in Iganga Municipality.
The group of Muslims led by one Hajji Katira Kozala, attacked another group that wanted to carry out renovation works on a building that was donated to the Muslims by President Amin Dada, claiming they were doing it illegally. A fight later broke out that left two people seriously injured.
Hajji Kozala claims the building that was formerly being owned by the deceased businessman Kasule Mugolofa, belongs to the Muslim community and accused the group that was carrying out renovation work of attempting to grab it.
However, the group that was carrying out renovation works insists the building had to get a facelift since the paint and concrete had become worn out as a result of old age.
Hajji Ali Babuje said a 10-man committee was recently set up by Al Mecca mosque to oversee renovation works on all buildings belonging to the Muslim community.
However, the Iganga district NRM chairman, Hajji Abubaker Walubi, accused the group that was carrying out renovation works on the building of trying to take away property belonging to the Muslim community.
"These people have their own selfish interests and that's why they want to take away this property by trying to do some renovations," he said.
Walubi who was attacked by a group of Muslims during the chaos said he has been threatened several times for openly defending property that belongs to Muslims.
The Iganga district resident district commissioner, Eva Kwesiga, who arrived at the scene moments later, urged both sides to remain calm as the issue is being handled.
The Busoga East regional Police commander, Anatoli Katungweni, said the renovation works on the building had been halted to pave way for investigations following the fight between the two Muslim sides.
Police was still deployed at the building to quell any violence that would likely occur after.