(Worthy News) - A former Imam who became a Christian pastor in eastern Uganda has died from injuries he sustained during a violent attack by relatives enraged at his conversion, Christian Headlines (CH). Christianity is legal in Uganda, but believers have come under frequent attack from Muslim extremists.
A father of four, 35-year-old Pastor Bashir Sengendo put his faith in Christ and left Islam on May 13, 2016, CH reports. With the help of another former Muslim and a church, Pastor Bashir was able to attend Bible college for six months, and then became a church leader.
At the time of his death, Pastor Bashir had traveled from his home in Kiboga, western Uganda to visit his family village of Namaato in Kigalama Sub-County, CH reports. He had done so at the request of relatives who told him to come and deal with a portion of land they said was left to him.
Arriving in Namaato on January 12, Pastor Bashir was attacked the next morning by his brother and uncle who beat him over the head and back with a sharp object, Morning Star News was told. After losing a lot of blood, and due to inadequate medical care, Pastor Bashir succumbed to his injuries on January 25.
Pastor Bashir leaves children aged 10, 8, 5, and 2 years old.
“The family needs a lot of financial, moral, and psychological support,” a Kiboga area pastor told reporters.