A Christian in eastern Uganda died on July 10 from head injuries sustained in an attack by Muslim extremists the previous week, sources said.
Morning Star News reports that the man, identified as Robert Bwenje, 28, had accompanied Deputy Pastor Ambrose Mugisha of the Elim Pentecostal Church in Nyamiringa village to an open-air debate on Christianity and Islam which s held in Sirimula Village, Kyankwanzi District in July. 6.
During the debate, several Muslims threatened and challenged the men.
At the end of the debate, eight Muslims including two women put their faith in Christ, according to Mugisha.
“It angered the Muslims, but they couldn’t attack us because we had tight security from the police,” the pastor said.
But then a group of Muslims from the village of Sirimula allegedly ambushed the two men as they walked through a swamp.
“We saw men dressed in Islamic clothes coming from the bush in different directions and shouting ‘Allah akbar, Allah akbar {Allah is greater},'” Mugisha told Morning Star News.
The pastor identified two of the attackers as Ashirafu Kasamba and Kabagambe Kadiri, who forced them to hand over Bibles and other books they were carrying, according to the outlet.
“They took away the Koran and then burned the rest of the books, including the Bibles, and then beat us with sticks,” Mugisha said. “I was able to identify Ashirafu Kasamba who cut me in the head. I then jumped into the water and managed to swim and cross to the other side.”
Mugisha said a passerby found him bleeding and rescued him. He said their attackers continued to beat Bwenje and then fled. The Good Samaritan took the two injured Christians to a nearby clinic for first aid and later to a hospital.
Elim Pentecostal Church Pastor Godfrey Ssemujju said he visited Mugisha and Bwenje in hospital on July 10 and Bwenje died later that night.
“Bwenje succumbed to deep head injuries and we buried him on July 12,” Pastor Ssemujju told Morning Star. “We reported the incident to Kiboga Central Police Station.”
The outlet reported that local police arrested Kasamba, charging him with attempted murder.
“The police are organizing a serious search for the other attackers,” Ssemujju said. “We need prayers for the safety of our church members and our church building, as well as the speedy recovery of our pastor, support from the widow of Robert Bwenje and support for Pastor Mugisha’s medical bills.”
Another Christian pastor attacked in Uganda, his church demolished
Morning Star News also reported that Muslim extremists attacked a Christian pastor on June 26 and demolished his church in the village of Rwomuriro.
Extremists have also threatened to kill Pastor Baingana James if he continues to lead Muslims to Christ.
He reports receiving a phone call on the morning of June 23 from a Muslim who identified himself as Sheikh Mwesigye Ja’afari of Kindeke telling him to leave and also to return seven Muslims who had converted to Islam. to Christianity after receiving a healing prayer.
Ja’afari allegedly told him: “Leave the place within two days, otherwise we are coming to destroy your house and your church”.
James told Morning Star News he did not take the threat seriously, but on the morning of June 26 he found a letter on his door ordering him to stop Sunday services and close the church .
“I refused, because preaching Jesus Christ is my calling, and planting churches is my vision in this area,” he said.
Then, during their Sunday service, James and members of his congregation saw a group of young Muslims led by Ja’afari coming to pick them up from all directions. The teenagers all carried clubs and sticks.
“They started beating us, including nursing mothers and youngsters, while shouting in four languages – English, Luganda, Swahili and Arabic – and ordering us to stop the service and leave immediately,” he said. James at Morning Star. “As we struggled to get out in the panic and tension as others suffered serious injuries, they began to smash and demolish the building.”
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