Man accused of attempted attack on Mubajje over Muslim property freed

Kampala, (UG):- The Magistrate’s Court at the Law Development Center (LDC), Makerere has dropped charges of threatening violence against former Nsangi Municipality Mayor Hajj Abdul Kiyimba and his son Hamuza Kiyimba.

Hajj Kiyimba, known to be one of the top leaders in the Muslim community was arrested alongside his son Hamuza from Gadaffi Mosque, Old Kampala on November 24, 2023, during Jummah prayers as he charged against Shiekh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje while allegedly moving towards him.

However, during the court session on Thursday, State prosecution led by Ms Maureen Tusiime revealed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had issued a Nolle Prosequi (a withdrawal form of a case) against the two suspects.

“The DPP wishes to withdraw charges of threatening violence and inciting violence against A1 Abdul Kiyimba and A2 Hamuza Kiyimba. I pray to tender in the said nolle prosequi withdrawing the two charges of threatening violence and inciting violence,” Ms Tusiime submitted.

This prompted the Grade One Magistrate, Mr Martines Kirya to drop the charges and ordered that the bail money of Shs 1 million be refunded to the two.

Case background

Kiyimba and his son Hamuza are said to have incited violence against Sheikh Mubajje by shouting or mentioning the words “Allah Akubar ” Where is Mubaje? I want Mubajje” while advancing towards him (Sheikh Mubajje) for having allegedly sold off Muslim land and other property. This, according to state prosecution happened on November 24, 2023, at Gaddafi Mosque in Kampala.

The state had further alleged that Kiyimba, with intent to intimidate or annoy Ashiraf Zziwa, threatened to injure or kill the said Zziwa, accusing him and Mubajje’s leadership of the attempted sale of Muslim property, among them the Old Kampala mosque at over Shs19 billion recovery after a bad land transaction.