news 10 August 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Muslim Leaders Denounce Quranic Justification for Magara Murder Convicts' Actions
The Uganda Muslim Lawyers’ Association (UMLAS) has strongly condemned a video circulating on social media where a convict in the Susan Magara murder case claims Islamic teachings justified the crimes. UMLAS asserts that the Quran does not support kidnapping or murder for ransom. Source: https://observer.ug/news/muslim-leaders-reject-quran-link-to-magara-murder
The Uganda Muslim Lawyers’ Association (UMLAS) has issued a strong condemnation regarding a video that has surfaced online, featuring one of the individuals convicted in the kidnapping and murder of Susan Magara. The convict, Hajjarah Nakandi, is seen in the recording linking the horrific crimes to Islamic teachings.
In a statement released by UMLAS president Rashid Ssemambo, the association expressed deep displeasure and questioned the timing and dissemination of the video. The recording emerged after the court had delivered its verdict and subsequently spread across social media platforms like X, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
Ssemambo emphasized that the convicts had already faced due legal process. He stated that the claims made by Nakandi, suggesting the Quran permits kidnapping for ransom and subsequent murder if demands are not met, are entirely unfounded and do not represent authentic Islamic teachings.
UMLAS cautioned that such misrepresentations could foster a dangerous and false impression that Islam condones violent acts. This, they warned, could potentially fuel Islamophobia and prejudice against the Muslim community.
The association has urged Ugandan security agencies to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the creation and release of the video. They seek to understand the motives behind its circulation and the agenda it aims to promote.
This stance by UMLAS aligns with sentiments expressed by other prominent Muslim leaders, including Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje and Deputy Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa. These leaders have universally rejected any attempts to associate the convicts’ alleged actions with the tenets of Islam, reiterating that murder and kidnapping are strictly forbidden in Islamic law.
UMLAS further warned that allowing these false and harmful narratives to go unchallenged could incite hatred and jeopardize the peaceful coexistence among Ugandans of diverse religious backgrounds.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)