In Chains: Christian Persecution - 2019, Issue 1

Some 25 kilometers (15 miles) away in
Kibuku District, a former Muslim fears for
his life after villagers in the Kibenga area,
Lyama parish in Kakutu Sub-County, tore
down the building of the church he leads.
Simon Mustafa Waseke had turned to Christ
in 2017 and soon found he had a
congregation to lead after many Muslims
accepted his message of repentance from sin
and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Kibenga is a predominantly Muslim area.
“Having many followers from those who had
left Islam, I decided to put up a church
building, and many converts from Islam
joined the church – in just a few months, the
number rose to 35 members,” Pastor Waseke
told Morning Star News. “This made the
Muslims to be against the church.”
Villagers led by an imam identiYied only as
Yuba on Oct. 10 pulled down the building of
Christian Family Church at 5:30 a.m., he said.
Neither he nor anyone from his congregation
goes near the church site, he said.
“The Muslims are now out to kill me and my
family – we are having sleepless nights,” he
told Morning Star News. “How long are we
going to hide ourselves from our enemies of
Christianity? Please pray for us.”
The attacks were the latest of many cases of
persecution of Christians in eastern Uganda
that Morning Star News has documented.
Uganda’s constitution and other laws
provide for religious freedom, including the
right to propagate one’s faith and convert
from one faith to another.
Muslims make up no more than 12 percent
of Uganda’s population.
“A gang of radical Muslims entered the
church compound,” he said, “and pulled
down the church building while shouting
‘Allah Akbar [God is Greater, a jihadist
slogan], away with this church and Pastor
Mustafa Waseke. No more prayers in this
place, or else you will all lose your lives,’ and
in no time the church was on its ground.”
A secret Christian who has contact with the
area Muslim community has informed the
pastor that the assailants are threatening to
kill him unless he leaves the area, so he does
not dare bring legal action against them.
“Even if am given police protection, I am not
sure of the security of my members of the
church, who are now very fearful,” Pastor
Waseke said. “I am at a crossroads of not
knowing what to do. My church members
are scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
Soon their faith in Christ will diminish, and
they will possibly return to Islam.”