Muslim leaders reject Quran link to Magara murder

What the report says

The Uganda Muslim Lawyers’ Association (UMLAS) has condemned the release and online circulation of a video tied to the Susan Magara kidnap-and-murder case, saying it falsely links the crimes to Islamic teachings. According to The Observer, the statement was signed by UMLAS president Rashid Ssemambo and objected to the video being shared after the court had already ruled in the case.

The article says the High Court convicted nine people over Magara’s 2018 kidnapping and murder on August 3, 2026. It then reported that a video spread on platforms including X, TikTok and WhatsApp showed one convict, Hajarah Nakandi, appearing to claim the offenses were based on the Quran. Nakandi is described as alleging that kidnapping for ransom and killing a victim after a deadline are allowed by Islamic teaching. The association rejected that message outright.

UMLAS said the statements do not reflect the Holy Quran or Islamic doctrine and warned that the video could give the false impression that Islam condones kidnapping and murder. The group also said such claims could fuel Islamophobia and undermine peaceful coexistence among Ugandans of different faiths.

The Observer also said other Muslim leaders, including the mufti, deputy mufti, and officials from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, have similarly rejected attempts to connect the convicts’ actions to Islam. UMLAS has asked security agencies to investigate how the recording was made and why it was released.