Five Muslims have been injured in clashes between rival Muslim factions in Lira Town. The clashes broke out during Friday prayers at the defunct Lira main mosque. It is alleged that about ten Muslim youths armed with machetes stormed Lira Main mosque that is occupied by Muslims loyal to Sheikh Yusuf Belinda, the former Kadhi Lira district and hacked them.
The raid took about 100 worshipers by surprise as they were in the middle of their Friday prayers. Some of the injured have been identified as Ibrahim Ikoyo, Abdhala Waibi, Yasin Arafat and Otim Juma.
Ibrahim Okello, the Erute County Sheikh who was in the mosque at the time of attack says their attackers sneaked into the mosque in small groups with machetes tucked in their tunics [Kanzus]. He says that after settling in the mosque the group decided to attack worshipers injuring several people.
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Okello says that they reported the matter to police but Robert Ssematta, the Lira District Police Commander didn’t intervene leaving the Muslims to clash. No police personnel was deployed at the mosque as the case has been in the past.
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Blood stains and human flesh could be seen at the mosque, when URN visited the mosque after the attack. Nasuru Mpira, the deputy Khadi Lira District says they informed police about the planned attack in advance but nothing was done to prevent the clash.
Mpira says that the rival faction has been waging war against them for a long time. He says today’s attack was sparked off by their decision to start performing prayers at the abandoned mosque. He wonders why police and the district security committee cannot intervene. The attackers are opposed to the leadership of Sheikh Yusuf Balinda, the former Kadhi Lira Muslim district. This is the third time; rival Muslims factions in Lira have clashed.
