Muslims conclude 3-day Ijtema Prayer with call for peace

A three-day Ijtema prayer assembly of Muslim faithful in Moroto ended with Islamic leaders urging Karamoja youth to abandon violence and embrace peace.

The gathering, which drew over 1,700 faithful from across the region, including Kenya and Tanzania, was a display of solidarity among Muslims in Karamoja and beyond.

In his sermon, Moroto District Khadi Muhammed Akida Lokure acknowledged the current calm in the region and encouraged youth still holding onto illegal firearms to surrender them.

"I want to thank the government, led by President Museveni, for the disarmament exercise that has removed most of the illegal guns from the region," Hajj Akida said.

Sheikh Abdul Wahab Sulaiman thanked the Muslim community for promoting Islam in Karamoja, a region previously dominated by Christianity.

"The large attendance is a sign of growth. I encourage you to continue preaching but also endeavor to make out reaches to vulnerable communities," Sheikh Sulaiman said.

Sheikh Abdul Nasser Kakande emphasised that the ceremony was not just a spiritual retreat but also a demonstration of solidarity among Muslims in Karamoja and beyond.

The peaceful conclusion of the Ijtema prayer is a step towards promoting peace and stability in Karamoja, a region that has historically been plagued by violence and conflict.

The Ijtema is a prayer meeting spread over three days, during which attending devotees perform daily prayers while listening to scholars reciting and explaining verses from the Quran, the central religious text.

The call to abandon violence and embrace peace during the Ijtema prayer was welcomed by the Moroto Municipality MP, Francis Adome and Moroto Mayor, Ismail Mohammed, who thanked the Muslim community for promoting unity and harmony in the district