Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda on March 8 killed a Christian for leading Muslims to faith in Christ, sources said.
Kiisa Masolo, 45, had returned to his home in Nakitiku village, Bunabuka parish, Bubeza Sub-County in Sironko District at 7 p.m. after preaching on the streets of Nakaloke and Busajjabwankuba when seven masked men wearing Islamic attire broke in and took him away, said his mother, Norah Nandege.
“After whisking him away, three men remained behind and told me that, ‘Allah could be very displeased together with your son, and we’re out to punish him,'” Nandege told Morning Star News. “Then the three men left.”
She called a clan leader who arrived but told her they need to wait til the following morning before taking motion, she said. When her son didn’t show up the next morning, she reported the kidnapping to the Local Council 3 chairperson, and a search began.
“After 4 hours of search, the body of my son Masolo was found lying lifeless within the bush with a written Arabic note which we couldn’t read,” Nandege said. “An individual fluent in Arabic was called to read the script which stated, ‘We had warned you to not convert our Muslim brothers and sisters to Christianity, but you did not heed to our warning. This has finally cost your life.'”
Muslims had left several warnings and threats on Masolo’s cell phone telling him to stop converting Muslims to Christianity, she said.
“I attempted to advise my son to be very cautious together with his life, but he used to inform me that his life was within the hands of God and that he was called to perform the preaching of the gospel of Christ,” Nandege told Morning Star News. “Since then, I knew that the lifetime of my son was at risk, and he may not live for long on account of the various threatening messages of Allah who was out to kill him.”
Masolo’s body, which had deep cuts in the pinnacle and neck, was taken to Mbale city mortuary for postmortem and further investigation. He was a member of Calvary Temple in Mbale.
The attack was the most recent of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.
Uganda’s structure and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the appropriate to propagate one’s faith and convert from one faith to a different. Muslims make up not more than 12 percent of Uganda’s population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
