YUMBE
At least nine people were wounded after being hacked and beaten by a group of muslim youths, who were protesting against the sale of pork in Yumbe town on Tuesday.
The violent protest also left about 50 homes and several Christian-owned businesses vandalized as the rowdy youths went on a rampage, accusing traders of selling what they termed haram (forbidden) meat in a predominantly muslim area.
Security reports indicate that the chaos followed the attempted arrest of Sheikh Kassim Abdallah, the Imam of Munir Mosque, who was earlier captured in a viral video instructing muslim youth to “destroy all pork joints” within Yumbe District.
In the video, Sheikh Abdallah is heard urging his followers to take action, saying Yumbe “is not a place for pork” and warning that selling it was against islamic values. His remarks reportedly angered some youth, who later mobilized from nearby mosques before attacking pork joints, hotels, and homes belonging to non-muslims.
Security personnel were later deployed to quell the violence. Police fired pepper spray and dispersed the rioters to restore calm in the town.
Police says that investigations are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the attacks. Authorities have also condemned the violence and warned against inflammatory statements that could incite religious conflict.
Yumbe District, located in the West Nile sub-region, has a majority muslim population but is home to several christian communities engaged in trade and small businesses.
