State not behind Muslim clerics' murders

By Moses Walubiri

The operations commander in Uganda police, Felix Kaweesi, has allayed fears that the State might be behind the double murder late last year of two Muslim clerics, saying it would be unlike the current government.

Responding to queries about perceived sluggish investigations into the murder of Sheikh Abdul Muwaya and Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga, Kaweesi said police was carrying out investigations into the two high profile killings below the radar in order not to scupper chances of apprehending culprits.

"These are not State inspired murders. The State that has a constitutional mandate to protect Ugandans cannot turn around and harm them," Kaweesi said, promising to use Monday's police press briefings to update the country on the latest development in its investigations.

National Chairman of Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly Prof. Abasi Kiyimba (left) with Andrew Kaweesi after the briefing at Hotel Africana. Extreme right Haruna Kanabi, a journalist. Photo/Wilfred Sanya

The former Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander called for patience, saying investigations in murder cases are sometimes painstaking and protracted.

Kaweesi had actually stormed a press briefing at Africana Hotel by Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly (UMYA) chairman, Prof. Abasi Kiyimba, in which he chided police chief, Gen. Kale Kayihura, for quickly blaming elements in the Allied Democratic Forces for the murder in 2012 of Sheikh Abdul Karim Sentamu.

Kiyimba had warned that the so-called ADF theory would prematurely close investigations into possible clues that could lead to the arrest of the real culprits.

Late last year, two Muslim clerics – Sheikh Abdul Muwaya and Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga – were shot in quick succession by unknown assailants riding on motorcycles.