The Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) has let go of a group of nine Muslims, consisting of eight men and one woman. The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) played a role in securing their release.
The intervention was led by Sheikh Imran Ssali, the Secretary for Religious Affairs, and Sheikh Juma Bakhit Cucu, the Secretary for Education.
About a month ago, these individuals were taken into custody at a mosque in Mpigi town. They were engaged in informal Islamic theological studies at the time of their arrest.
Authorities believed that the group might be connected to the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which operates in the jungles of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. This suspicion arose when one member of the group was caught trying to flee with his entire family, including his wife and children.
During the questioning that followed, he disclosed his intention to join the Islamic State, believing that he could practice a more authentic form of Islam there, free from what he saw as compromises in Uganda. As a result, the group was detained while a comprehensive investigation was conducted.