Kampala — Muslims in Pallisa town have attacked butcheries operated by Christians and burnt them.

The Dec.10 incidents occurred after Christians slaughtered animals for sale.

This is contrary to the common practice where only Muslims slaughter animals for sale.

According to eastern region police commander, SSP Phinehas Arinaitwe, the preaching of a Christian convert one pastor Umar Mulinde from Masaka provoked the incidents.

Arinaitwe says that Umar Mulinde held a Christian crusade in Pallisa and told Christians that they should slaughter their own animals because there is no law saying only Muslims should slaughter animals.

Consequently, Arinaitwe says, Christians declined buying meat from Muslim butcheries and opened their own provoking some Muslim activists to burn the Christian butcheries.

"Muslims reacted and burnt butcheries. We arrested three of them and they have been prosecuted," he said.

Arinaitwe said that the ministry of Agriculture wrote to them that in order to respect Muslim culture, they should be allowed to slaughter animals.

"But the Christians are saying there is no law allowing Muslims to slaughter animals on behalf of others. Indeed there is no law," he said.