First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a
Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a
Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a
trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one
left
to speak out for me.
Pastor
Martin Niemöller
Mulinde assailants target comedians, radio preachers
Wednesday, 01 February 2012 03:27
Amarula family, Bakayimbira Dramactors, Impact FM preachers and
non-Muslims targeted
A group that claims to have executed the grisly attack on Pastor Umah Mulinde with acid on Christmas Eve seeks to broaden its evil mission and has now revealed that it is targeting more people it accuses of being bent on ostracizing Islam in their performances and sermons. They pinpoint drama groups and radio evangelists, particularly comedy group Amarula Family, Bakayimbira Dramactors, presenters on Christian radio Impact FM, other born-again leaders and non-Muslims in general.
The Observer has learnt that the anonymous group affiliated to Islam dropped a memo at Mulinde’s church in Namasuba in which it claimed responsibility for the attack.
This is the first time a group (or anyone) has claimed responsibility for the attack on Pastor Mulinde. Following the incident, there was speculation on the actual motive, with some people attributing it to land disputes and others, to religious rivalry. Mulinde himself blamed the attack on religious fanatics opposed to his conversion from Islam and his strong critique on the faith in debates and in his sermons.
The authors also claim responsibility for the ‘minor’ acid attack in August 2010 on actor Andrew Benon Kibuuka for his comic role as an ignorant ‘Hajji Bumaali’ on Bukedde TV, which Muslims deemed blasphemous to Islam. After the attack, Kibuuka changed the character’s name to ‘Dube’. He recently ended his broadcasts on Radio Simba. In the anonymous memo written in both English and Luganda, the authors warn of more attacks on Mulinde, saying the recent one was just the beginning.
They accuse him of slaughtering a pig while donning a Muslim cap. While the group accuses Mulinde and others of attacking Islam intentionally, it says some other individuals do so unknowingly, although this does not absolve them. They also say the success of their first attack on Mulinde shows that the Jesus Christ in whom he believes does not work.
“In conclusion, this is what Allah has enabled us to write and warn about the boundaries or limits which are widely ignored by non-Muslims,” the memo ends.
The Observer has also seen email correspondence between Mulinde and a host of senior pastors in the Pentecostal Church, dated January 27, in which he briefs them about the contents of the anonymous letters and the state of his health.
“A few days ago, three letters were dropped at my church in which a Muslim group claimed to have attacked me, but that they are so sorry that I did not die! . . . They regard the attack on me as a blow to all Christians and all non-Muslims.”
Mulinde warns fellow evangelists not to ignore the threats in the letter, saying that that is how religious wars started in countries like Nigeria.
“We shouldn’t forget that this is exactly how it started in Nigeria and other countries where Christians are butchered gravely,” he wrote.
“We must remember the fact that no nation was an Islamic state in the first place, but Muslims have been using such ungodly strategies and have managed to turn many states into Islamic states.”
In the memos, Mulinde calls for unity of all pastors in petitioning relevant government institutions, such as the Justice and Internal Affairs ministries and the Inspector General of Police for action on the threats to non-Muslims. Most pastors copied in the email supported the proposal and suggested more institutions to be petitioned, including the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Parliament, embassies in Uganda and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU)
When contacted, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Ibn Ssenkumbi said the case files are at Police headquarters. He referred The Observer to Police spokesman, Asumani Mugenyi. Mugenyi told The Observer yesterday that he was unaware of the alleged anonymous letters, but asked for time to cross check with the investigating officers.
He also revealed that the only person who had been arrested in connection with the attack on Mulinde had been released after police investigations showed that he was at his home at the time of the attack. Mugenyi further said the police had been given names of people involved in a land dispute with Mulinde and that investigations into these matters were still ongoing.
newseditor@observer.ug
Also see,
Pastor Umar Mulinde blinded by acid attack
Suspect in Pastor Mulinde acid attack arrested
