Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Police have blocked the National Juma special prayers that were scheduled to take place on Friday at Kololo ceremonial grounds.
The prayers which were organised by MPs Mohammed Nsereko of Kampala Central and Latif Ssebagala, Kawempe North were to pray for the lives of Muslims who have been killed, arrested and tortured.
According to the Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga, the prayers were blocked because they had not sought clearance from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.
At Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, there was heavy deployment of police with limited access.
In December, Nsereko and Ssebagala wrote to the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola and the Chief of Defense Forces Gen David Muhoozi seeking permission for the prayers.
Release on National Jumaa Special prayers pic.twitter.com/KILJjKWQY9
Advertisement— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) January 18, 2019
Muhoozi cleared the prayers but on condition that Ochola also does the same. However, Ochola has never responded to the letter.
A press statement issued on Friday by Nsereko noted that it was an injustice to the Muslim community for the police not grant permission.
“We, therefore, call off our National Special Juma Prayers which were supposed to take place Friday 18th January 2019 and this is an indication that Kololo Ceremonial grounds can be accessed by all Ugandans apart from Muslims. These are the injustices we are fighting,” reads the statement in part.