- Two South African Islamic relief workers, have been detained by Ugandan authorities, on suspicions of involvement in acts of terrorism.
According to reports by Radio Islam, two men were detained by joint anti-terrorism task force of Uganda at Entebbe International Airport in Kampala on Sunday.
The family spokesperson Yousha Tayob said they had received acknowledgement from Ugandan authorities that Mufti Hussain Bhayat and Haroon Saley were being detained in the country.
Mr Tayob said it had not yet been possible to communicate with the two men but hoped they could establish consular access through the South African High Commission in Uganda, further saying their families were still hoping for the best.
"We are trying to establish consular access and that will tell us everything we need to know. We have been given no official reason," he said.
Ugandan defence and army spokesperson Major Paddy Ankunda said the two are being held by Ugandan military intelligence.
SA government spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said South Africa's High Commission in Uganda has been officially informed that two South Africans, along with two other Ugandans, were arrested early last week but no charges have yet been brought against them.
"Our high commissioner in Kampala is in the process of arranging a visit to the prison where they are being kept so that they can be provided with consular assistance," Mr Mamoepa stated.
Uganda's New Vision online newspaper said they were taken for questioning by a joint anti-terrorism task force.
The Muslim Judicial Council believes the two men are being subjected to Islamaphobic profiling and the MJC and the Media Review Network want Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils to intervene.
The two work for Crescent of Hope, an Islamic organisation that does charitable and relief work, and had made a stop over in Uganda on their way home to South Africa from Kenya.
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