Reuben Olita and Madinah Tebajjukira
1 December 2008
Kampala — KENYA has deported a Ugandan Muslim cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga, back to Uganda citing security reasons.
Kamoga was arrested by the Kenya anti-terror police at the Busia border with his wife. Kamoga, the Imam of Juja Road Mosque in Nairobi, had reportedly visited his relatives in Uganda.
Busia Police boss in Kenya, Muthamia Micheni, said Kamoga was arrested by the immigration officers and handed over to the Kenya's anti-terrorism police who took him to Nairobi.
"The intention was to have his passport screened. This is usually the routine," the officer said. But sources yesterday said Kamoga was later on Friday deported back to Uganda.
Kamoga was one of the top leaders of the radical Tabliq Muslims in Uganda who masterminded the storming of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council headquarters at Old Kampala twice in 1991 during which four policemen were killed.
Following the arrest of hundreds of Muslim Tabliqs involved in the violent fracas, Kamoga fled into exile in Kenya. In 2000, he returned to Uganda after being granted amnesty but returned to Kenya in 2001 where he continued preaching Islam.
Earlier before Kamoga was deported, the Kenya Human Rights Commission had raised concern about his long detention.
Communication officer Farouk Majani said they were in contact with the anti-terror unit to establish the circumstances surrounding his detention.
Kenya's Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang could not be reached for comment. Kamoga declined to discuss matter when contacted yesterday. "I don't discuss my personal matters in the media," he remarked.
But sources close to the sheik said he had been deported on suspicion that he has contacts with Somali Islamists, who have imposed shariah law in the areas they control.
Kamoga, the source added, also had problems with the Kenya authorities because of his involvement in the establishment of Islamic centres for new Islamic converts.
The Kenyans allegedly suspect the centres are recruiting grounds for terrorism activities.
"Islamic religious leaders are suspects everywhere. But Tabliq are no longer in bad books with the Uganda government, this will be sorted out," a Ugandan sheik and a friend of Kamoga said.
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