Ugandan Muslims demand Vice President post

[sonz]

Ugandan Muslims demand President Yoweri Museveni to appoint a Muslim Vice President to meet his pre-election promises of fair political representation and equal opportunities, all Africa reported.

The leader of the Tabliq sect, Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto, said that Ugandan Muslims have been marginalized for a long time, partly because they were a minority that was often stereotyped as poorly educated.

"When the President elects his cabinet, the Muslims are not considered. He keeps on recycling the old faces, Sheikh Kakeeto said.

"The President is a protestant, the Vice President or the Prime Minister should be a Muslim," he added, echoing demands by the Assembly of Muslim Organizations in Uganda.

President Museveni is expected to reshuffle his cabinet after he swears in on May 12 for another five-year term.

Muslim leaders say that Muslims weren’t adequately represented in the outgoing government, noting that there were only five Muslim ministers in the 60-member cabinet.

"We are tired of being kept behind because no one can present our issues," Sheikh Kakeeto said. "We want Muslims to also occupy these high offices,” he added.

Muslims make up 16% of Uganda’s 26 million population, according to the most recent census. However, unofficial estimates put the number of Muslims in the country at 7 million, constituting 26%.

Ugandan Muslim leaders say they mainly voted for the re-election of Museveni in the February elections in return for more religious and political rights.

They basically wanted more freedoms in practicing their faith as well as the recognition of the Islamic law, or Shariah, in courts.

The Islamic religion was introduced in Uganda in 1844 when Arab Yemenis, Egyptian and Sudanese tribesmen visited the country.

Many Ugandans embraced Islam, but tribal leaders opted for Christianity after the British occupation in late 19th century, making Muslims a minority.