Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
A 52-year-old Christian in eastern Uganda is recovering from injuries after he was allegedly beaten by his five adult sons following his decision to leave Islam and embrace Christianity, according to Morning Star News.
The incident reportedly occurred on August 9 in Nakalama village, Iganga Town Council, after Kibirige Abumusa returned home from an extended stay in Jinja City, where he had converted to Christianity on June 1.
A neighbour and eyewitness, Alice Naigaga, said one of Abumusa’s sons, 28-year-old Kibirige Budallah, confronted his father about the conversion.
Abumusa reportedly became a Christian after attending a three-day open-air evangelistic event organised by Pastor Zakalia Sserwada of Evangel Church in Jinja City. A business colleague and member of True Worship Centre Church had encouraged him to attend the programme.
Following his conversion, Abumusa attended True Worship Church Centre in Jinja, where he underwent discipleship before returning to his village in Iganga District.
According to his colleague, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, Abumusa’s conversion became known to his son after Imam Kisige Musitafa of a Jinja mosque informed Budallah. The imam had reportedly accompanied Abumusa to the evangelistic event.
Naigaga said Budallah confronted his father after his return, accusing him of abandoning Islam and calling him a “kafir”, meaning an infidel.
She alleged that Budallah told his father he did not deserve to live because of his decision to leave Islam before striking him with a stick. His four other sons reportedly joined the assault.
Naigaga, who witnessed the incident, said she took photographs from a distance before calling for assistance from neighbours.
By the time neighbours arrived, Abumusa was reportedly weak and bleeding from the nose, with wounds on his hands, legs and back.
Naigaga also alleged that she heard Budallah referring to Islamic teachings concerning Muslims who leave Islam and claiming that killing such people would earn the killer paradise.
Abumusa was taken to Iganga Hospital, where he received treatment for about a week. Following his discharge, he reportedly moved to a friend’s house in another village, where he continued his recovery.
Abumusa said he had not reported the assault to the police because he feared that doing so could expose him to further danger from his sons.
His friend said Abumusa remained concerned about his safety because of the continued hostility from his children.
Abumusa, who lost his wife in an accident in 2022, is now recovering away from his family home.
The incident is the latest in a series of alleged cases of persecution of Christians in Uganda documented by Morning Star News.
Uganda’s Constitution and other laws guarantee religious freedom, including the right to practise, propagate and change one’s faith. Muslims account for no more than 12 per cent of Uganda’s population, with larger concentrations reported in the eastern part of the country.
