Kampala: National resistance movement (NRM) government is not against Muslims, when we were fighting the former president of Uganda Idi Amin Dada, we were supported by Muslims, says President Museveni.
His remarks come after the recent arrests of Muslims in relation to various high profile murder cases among them the assassination of the assistant inspector general of police (AIGPA) Andrew Felix Kaweesi in 2017, senior state prosecutor Joan Kagezi (2015) and the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara (2018).
At the State House Iftar dinner, Mr Museveni urged the Muslims not to worry saying government does not believe in collective guilt, “worrying just because one Muslim has committed a crime, that does not mean that every Muslim is a criminal, crime has no religion,” he added.
He applauded the ambassadors of Turkey, Somalia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt saying Uganda enjoys warm relations with Islamic countries and “we encourage them to invest more here,”
“I appreciate Muslim community for greatly contributing to Uganda’s economy especially in the field of trade. However, I encourage you to venture into farming too, those in urban areas, consider getting into industries like Hajji Bulayimu Kibirige of Hotel Africana,” he said at state house.
Just the other day, former security Minister, Henry Tumukunde, in an interview with the Daily Monitor, said Muslims should not be profiled or targeted for the rising crime in the country, including reported threats posed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group.
Despite fewer divisions among Muslim community, Museveni called for togetherness saying in the next financial year government will start working on the national mosque.
He noted that on June 3rd (Martyrs Day), he came to learn that there were a good number of Muslim Martyrs and resolved that to construct a memorial Muslim site at Namugongo.
“I congratulate Muslim community for coming this far in the month of Ramadan and I pray that you conclude the fasting period in good health,” he concluded.
