Uganda: Muslims Stab Evangelist in Attack
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Muslims in eastern Uganda attacked and stabbed an evangelist who, along with his team, had converted a Muslim widow to Christianity during an open-air preaching session on February 15, according to Morning Star News.
Robert Kasozi, a 39-year-old evangelist known as Mulokole, was stabbed in the stomach, while three of his co-workers were beaten during an attack in Kiwanga village, Goma Sub-County, Mukono District, according to a local source cited by MSN.
After the evangelist and his team led a 75-year-old widow, Hasifa (name changed for security reasons), to Christ in a public prayer, a relative and a shopkeeper became enraged, according to a local source.
A local source told MSN, “A relative of Hasifa named Jawadi and a shopkeeper witnessed everything—he came out of the shop and began shouting the Islamic slogan, ‘Inna lillahi wa Inna ilayhi raji’un [Indeed to Allah we belong and to him we shall return],’ and [jihadist slogan] ‘Allah akbar [God is greater].’”
She said that a crowd of Muslims gathered and began insulting the evangelists.
“A Muslim came and attacked Kasozi, piercing him in the stomach with a knife,” the source said.
“While other attackers were shouting, ‘You infidels, why do you come to spread a wrong message in our city? Don’t you know this city belongs to Muslims? Stop what you’re doing now, because we know that Jesus is not the Son of God but a messenger from God, just like our prophet Muhammad.’”
“Other Muslims started beating the three evangelists as Kasozi was lying in a pool of blood. They also grabbed their Bibles and tore them into pieces.”
Although some of the assailants were known to area residents, none have been arrested. Kasozi, who was taken to a hospital for treatment and is still recovering, said, “I am going to file a case after leaving the hospital.”
Along with Kasozi, three other evangelists were injured in the attack: Alice Nanduja, 27, James Bazanya (also known as Kyuma Kya Yesu), and Frank Biribawa.
Although Uganda’s constitution and laws guarantee “religious freedom,” including the right to “propagate” faith and convert, Christian converts often face attacks in practice.
Muslims comprise about 12% of Uganda’s population, but Christians face the most pressure in the eastern regions, where Muslim communities are highly concentrated.
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