5 Islamic Schools shut down in Uganda as they are training students to become rebels

The schools targeted for closure have been training children to become fighters in a rebel group opposed to Uganda's government, according to Patrick Onyango, a spokesman for police in the capital Kampala.

He said: "They are brainwashing the children, training them to become recruits in a rebel group.

"The plan is that when they reach the right age they will be taken to become rebels."

Mr Onyango said three of the schools are located in Uganda's central region, while the other two are in the east.

Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper reported a senior Ugandan Muslim leader, Kassim Nakibinge, had criticised the police's actions, saying Islamic schools are being unfairly targeted by the authorities.

He reportedly accused the police of "hiding behind security to close our schools ".