Makerere University Muslim students demonstrate;Demand meeting with Kayihura

Muslim Students at Makerere University under their Association,  Muslim Students of Uganda, today morning gathered at the varsity Mosque demanding an apology from the Uganda Police force over what they termed
Stigmatization and Stereotype of their religion by the actions of the Force.

The students were responding to the recent closure of Madaras (QUORANIC SCHOOLS) by police in Mukono,  Sembabule and Busoga region. The Madaras were closed over allegations of recruiting children and training them to become jihadists.

The students demanded the reopening of the schools since their closure was related to  poor infrastructure yet other non-Muslim schools were also operating in worse conditions but have never  been closed.

Given the high security alert in the country,  police was heavily deployed. The Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander,  Haruna Isabirye was present to listen to the students.

“The teaching of the Quaran is no way connected to terrorism,  but rather an act of fulfilling the principles of our faith as granted to us by the religious freedoms detailed in our Constitution.  Such uttering disrupt
peaceful coexistence of Muslims and non Muslims in the community, ” read the press release issued to Isabirye. In response Isabirye advised the students to channel the reopening of the schools through the Ministry of Education and Sports which enforces education standards in the country.

Isabirye,  a Muslim,  noted that the police does not witch hunt Muslims, it only performs it’s duty of protecting life and property.

“We are not going to tolerate anyone using religion to destabilize the country,”

“Islam,  like any other religion is a religion of peace,  however there are individuals who want to misuse it,  we are going to isolate,  arrest and prosecute them, ” promised Isabirye.

The students request to match to Parliament was rejected by Isabirye citing the security alertness in the country but promised to deliver their message to the IGP,  Gen Kale Kayihura of wanting to meet him.

The peaceful demonstration was called off by student leaders waiting for their anticipated meeting in which they hope resolutions shall be got.