Bugiri imam is sixth Muslim cleric to be killed in five years

CRIME    MURDER 

The imam who was shot dead by an unknown assailant in Bugiri Municipality on Saturday evening is the fifth Muslim cleric to be killed under similar circumstances in less than five years.

Sheikh Masudi Mutumba, the imam of Lwemba Mosque in Lwemba sub-county in Bugiri, was reportedly gunned down by unknown assailants on a bodaboda motorcycle at his home in Busimba village in Lwemba at around 9 pm, according to James Mubi, the Police spokesperson for Busoga East.

"He was shot by a single bullet targeted to his head and he died instantly. An exhibit (cartridge) of an AK47 rifle was recovered and has been submitted to our forensic experts to establish which gun was used in committing the crime," he said. 

In November 2016, Sheikh Mohammed Kiggundu, one of the former commanders of Allied Democratic Forces rebels, was killed together with his bodyguard, Sgt. Steven Mukasa at Masanafu, a Kampala suburb. The two were driving to the city in a UPDF pick-up truck at about 7:30 am.

On June 30, 2015, Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan Kirya, the spokesperson of Kibuli-based Muslim faction, was shot dead in Bweyogerere, Wakiso shortly after his Taraweeh (special night prayers) at one of the mosques in Rubaga Division, a Kampala suburb.

A month earlier Sheikh Abdulrashid Wafula, the imam of the Bilal Mosque in Mbale town, was killed at the gate of his home in Kireka village in Nakaloke town council, Mbale district.

On December 28, 2014, Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga, a city preacher, was fatally gunned down at the Bwebajja Mosque on Entebbe road. He was shot five times; three bullets in the left limb, one on the head and another in the stomach as he was going for the last Muslim prayer of the day.

A few days earlier Sheikh Abdul Kadir Muwaya, the Shiite leader who was popularly known as Dakhtur, was shot dead on Christmas Day at his home in Mayuge district at around 9:30pm.