Tue. Dec 3rd, 2024

One of two Islamist attacks in eastern Uganda resulted in the loss of a pastor and his family's lives.One of two Islamist attacks in eastern Uganda resulted in the loss of a pastor and his family's lives.

Church leaders receive threats for their efforts to convert Muslims to Christianity.

NairobiKenya: According to the pastor’s brother, Islamist villagers in eastern Uganda burned a pastor and his family alive after he converted three Muslims to Christianity.

A tragic incident occurred when Pastor Weere Mukisa, his wife Annet Namugaya, and their two daughters, Judith Banirye (7) and Sylvia Bamukisa (4), perished in a fire intentionally ignited at their home before 3 a.m. on Oct. 13, said the church leader’s brother, James Tusubira. Pastor Mukisa was 30.

The heartbreaking attack happened in Kibale village, Mpumiro Parish, Bulange Sub-County, Namutumba District. Pastor Mukisa had led the Muslims to Christ in September.

“When the three young Muslims converted to Christ, my brother started receiving threatening messages that he should stop any contact with the three young converts and that the act committed is against the teaching of Islam not to join the religion of infidels,” Tusubira told Morning Star News.

Tusubira said he saw flame and smoke coming from the family’s home at 2:48 a.m.

Based on his statement, we immediately made our way to the location of the incident and found the house completely charred, with the five bodies unrecognizable due to the fire. Many people started showing up in the morning and discovered plastic petrol bottles.

The assailants were from a neighboring village and were known to the pastor, Tusubira said.

There has been a report to the police in Kibale about the murders. Officers were searching for the suspects who had fled, Tusubira said.

Villagers were in great shock and fearful over the gruesome attack, he said.

Tusubira asked for prayers to ensure that the radical Muslims responsible for harming his brother and family face consequences.

Mother Burned with Acid

After learning that she had put her faith in Christ, a mother of three children in Nankoma, Bugiri District, received beatings and acid burns from her Muslim husband.

Hidaaya Nabafa, 27, was receiving hospital treatment for severe burns after the attack by Juma Nsibambi, 42, she said.

Nabafa received Christ in August at a church in Nankoma village, which is undisclosed for security reasons. Keeping her faith secret, she had gone to a worship service on Oct. 9 while her husband was in Kampala.

“When I came back at 4 p.m., I found my husband at home, and he asked me where I had been; I kept muted for a while,” Nabafa told Morning Star News from her hospital bed. “I finally told him I gave my life to Jesus.”

She had Christian tracts about the life of Christ, she said.

“Upon hearing my confession, he got annoyed and boxed me and started beating me up,” Nabafa said. “I tried to make an alarm for rescue, but all in vain.”

Nsibambi quickly left, leaving her on the ground, and when he returned, he poured battery acid on her, she said.

“I lost consciousness, only to find myself in the hospital bed,” said the mother of children ages 7, 5, and 2.

After the neighbors arrived, they took her to a hospital in Bugiri, where she would have to undergo treatment for a few more weeks because of the severe burns. People expected that specific areas of her body would need reconstructive surgery.

The attacks were the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Uganda’s constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one’s faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up only 12 percent of Uganda’s population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.

By Christianity News Daily

Christianity News Daily is committed to publishing the latest breaking Christian world news, posts, and stories, with a focus on the persecuted church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to ensure that the true gospel of Jesus Christ reaches every corner of the globe to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and the great commission.