The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has appealed to Ugandans to be security cautious following the killing of Sheikh Hassan Kirya, a Muslim cleric. The Sheikh was gunned down on Tuesday, 30th June 2015 in Bweyogerere.

“Sheikh Kirya’s death has happened so soon after we have hardly recovered from the loss of a number of other Muslim clerics that were also murdered,” said Kadaga during the third Parliament. The dinner was held at the new Parliament parking yard and was attended by a cross-section of Muslims including leaders, ambassadors, Ministers, MPs, academics and businessmen. Kadaga said that the Muslim community was going through a difficult time following the death of Sheikh Kirya; the Spokesperson of Kibuli based Muslim Supreme Council.

The Speaker, who was joined by Parliament Commissioners and the Clerk to Parliament, appealed to government to improve security across the country. She assured the Muslim community that Parliament would continue to play its role where security is concerned.

Earlier, during the afternoon sitting of Parliament, the Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, castigated government for the killings of Muslim leaders. He demanded that government presents to Parliament a comprehensive statement explaining the killings.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, promised that government would present the statement to Parliament in two weeks. The Parliament Imam, Hon. Latif Ssebagala (DP, Kawempe North) appreciated the Speaker for having incorporated the Iftar dinner on the Parliamentary Calendar as an annual event. He also thanked the Speaker for supporting other Muslim events. “We are grateful that the Speaker respects Ramadhan; she adjourns sittings a little earlier to enable Muslims perform the evening prayers, and dine with our families as we break the fast,” said Hon. Ssebagala. He also appreciated the fact that the Parliamentary Muslim Community has a well-furnished Mosque.