by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Incited by local mosque leaders, a gang of Muslims in eastern Uganda beat up a pastor and his wife because they offered help to an Imam who recently came to faith in Christ, Morning Start News reports.
The Dec. 27 attack in Nankodo Sub-County, Kibuku District resulted in Pastor Moses Nabwana being hospitalized; their church building and a lot of church property were also severely damaged.
The Imam, who could not be named for security reasons, had put his faith in Jesus on Dec. 5 after meeting Pastor Nabwana who had been distributing masks for protection against COVID-19, Morning Star News said. The Imam’s wife came to faith in the Lord five days later, and Nabwana’s congregation helped to relocate the couple to safe housing for fear of Muslim reprisals.
Explaining the circumstances of the attack to Morning Star News, Nabwana’s wife Naura said the former Imam had come to the church on Dec. 27 to join a worship service: “The members were overjoyed [at the former Imam’s attendance] and made loud shouts and praises to God, which attracted the nearby Muslims to take note, and at 6 pm the announcement in the mosque was made of the apostasy of the imam.”
Then, on their way home after the service, Naura and her husband were confronted by eight Muslims who assaulted them. “They began by beating my husband, hitting him with sticks and blunt objects on the head, the back, his belly and chest. I made a loud alarm, and one of the attackers hit me with blows and a stick that affected my chest, back and broke my hand,” Naura told Morning Star News. The couple first received treatment at a clinic, but Nabwana was taken to hospital when his condition worsened.
That night a gang of Muslims also destroyed the roof, windows, doors and other parts of the church building. Furniture and musical instruments, amplifiers were destroyed as well, Morning Star News said. “Please stand with us in prayers and for financial support,” a senior pastor at the church asked Morning Star News.
Although Ugandan law provides for freedom of religion, Muslim persecution of Christians is increasing, Morning Star News reports. This is despite the fact that Muslims represent just 12 percent of Uganda’s population.