WAKISO-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: The man named as Nsubuga by President Yoweri Museveni in a statement following Monday’s twin bombings in Kampala, is a well-known former Imaam of Salaam mosque in Lweza in Wakiso.
An investigation by Newsday within the village of Lweza has unearthed the clandestine activities of Suleiman Nsubuga, well known to residents, the leaders of Salaam Mosque and local leaders.
He allegedly carried out recruitment and radicalization of youth into terrorism from Salaam Mosque even as local leaders told security about the crime. Nsubuga was never arrested and continued to roam within Lweza, freely. Many of Nsubuga’s recruits are now believed to be scattered countrywide where they are scaling up their activities.
In his statement on Tuesday night President Museveni said real pigs who manipulated youth into terrorism should set an example to those they recruit by blowing themselves up.
“Nsubuga, the so-called Sheikh, confused young people at Lweza. If blowing one up will send one to Jaanaa, let him blow himself up as an example instead of manipulating young children,” Museveni said.
Imaam Nsubuga between 2017 and 2018 carried out recruitment and indoctrination as he agitated for extremism through preaching at Salaam Mosque.
Mr Ssali Mohammad, the LC I Chairman of Lweza B has claimed in an interview that Suleiman Nsubuga, owing to his behavior, was even expelled as an Imaam at Salaam Mosque in Lweza B.
“As leaders of Salaam Mosque we had to expel him. He had introduced radical rules of no-beard no prayers to men and to women the entire face had to be masked. Whoever rejected the directives was a kafir to Nsubuga and his guards would beat you, drive you away from the mosque,” Ssali says.
One of the worshippers at Salaam mosque who asked not to be named, said that whenever Nsubuga preached he emphasized that Boko Haram, Al shabaab and Islamic State are the only true Moslems.
“In fact Nsubuga got into a disagreement with his wife and he grabbed all his children and took them to Usafi Mosque in Kisenyi, from where the army rescued them during a raid in 2018. When I went together with their mother, to get back the children, I told police officers about how Nsubuga’s behavior was suspicious. I don’t know what steps they took but Nsubuga continued to stay among us,” Ssali says.
Last year, Nsubuga was seen at Lweza but since then he disappeared. Security officers contacted on Wednesday morning said they were looking for him. They believe he crossed the border into the ADF camp in Democratic Republic of Congo.
In President Museveni’s statement, he named seven terrorists already dead including Muzafaru Matovu. Matovu according to residents in Lweza was one of the youth who was radicalized by Nsubuga. Matovu is the bomber and an accomplice to Yusuf Muwonge in the Swift bus incident on October 24. Both were residents of Lweza B.
From Lweza alone, security has arrested at least 11 suspects. Six are still in the hands of security; Faisal Nsubuga, Musunguzi Sadik, Hasana Ssebunya, Hero Ishaka and Abdul Shakur, Sharon Nakitende. Yet on at large are Munir Hasan, Sharif Kiyemba and Uthman Musinguzi.
All the suspects at Lweza rented single room houses and all operated mobile money booths.
In Museveni’s statement, on Tuesday, he said the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and police had captured a terrorist, one Musa Mudasiri, at Bwaise and took them to his home in Katooke in Nansana municipality and from his home, they found bombs.
“He gave us names of the bomber of CPS- Mansoor Uthman and the one of the IGG office- Wanjusi Abdallah,” Museveni said.
Museveni said that all those are part of the ADF group that attacked Gen. Katumba Wamala in June.
“These terrorists exposed themselves at a time when our security infrastructure has improved, compared to what it was in 2018 when I made the speech to Parliament,” Museveni said.
Numbers of terrorists dead or detained.
Seven have been killed while resisting arrest
Eighty one have been arrested
Three have been killed by the bombs they were carrying including three who detonated themselves on Monday.
Killed
1. Nsubuga Mohammed;
2. Manihaji;
3. Moses Mudasiri
4. Master Lubwama;
5. Juma Saidi;
6. Serwadda Juma; and
7. Amin Kawawa Mustapha.
Museveni’s statement comes after twin bombings on Monday in which three suicide bombers detonated themselves killing three policemen. 29 policemen out of a total of 33 people were also injured.
Museveni’s full statement
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