By URN.
There is heavy deployment of the police and military deployment at the Namugongo Muslim Shrine as Muslims remember the Martyrs.
All the people who are entering the Muslim shrine are being subjected to thoroughly checking as more than 30 armed police officers and UPDF soldiers patrol the shrine.
The celebrations started with Juma prayers with more than 500 Muslims in attendance.
Hajji Suleiman Musana, the Coordinator of Uganda Martyrs Celebrations this year says the security has been provided to avoid disruptions of the planned prayers and celebrations.
//Cue in: “Every year because…
Cue out: …to this mosque.”//
The small green mosque at Namugongo according to Hajji Musana was established in 1967 in memory of over 100 Muslims martyred between 1874-76. These were the first religious martyrs to be murdered by the King. Musana adds that others were murdered in other places such as Nateete and Namungona.
Trouble came however came after complaints from staunch Muslims who opposed the king claiming the King was a kafir since he was not circumcised.
Until 2012, Muslims were not celebrating the Martyrs day however Hajji Musana argues that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council decided to organize every first June to honour the Muslim martyrs.
Today Muslims will also celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, which was established in the 1970s by the then President of Uganda Idi Amin Dada.
