In Uganda, Muslim imam accused of killing a pastor

Pastor Bernard Mulongo. Photo: Morning Star News

In Uganda, police are searching for Imam Hassan Musa on suspicion of killing 25-year-old Christian pastor Bernard Mulongo following a public interfaith debate, reports the Morning Star News.

The tragedy occurred in the village of Jami shortly after a theological debate in which Pastor Mulongo delivered a compelling sermon. During the dispute, two influential Muslim women publicly announced their conversion to Christianity. According to witnesses, Imam Musa flew into a rage over the Christian's success and publicly threatened him with reprisal immediately after the event.

"Bernard, you deserve death for blasphemous deeds and leading our people to that false religion. It is not right for you to use the holy book, Quran, to mislead our members," the Islamic leader declared, inciting violence against Christians.

Late in the evening, as Bernard Mulongo was returning to his lodgings on a motorcycle together with his companion Robert Mukisa, they were intercepted by a group of unknown assailants. The attackers, also riding motorcycles, blocked the pastor's path and forced him to stop.

One of the aggressors shouted: "You have been misleading our people to join your bad religion and defiling our holy book!" Robert Mukisa managed to jump off the motorcycle and flee, while the attackers seized the pastor.

Police officers who arrived at the scene found Bernard Mulongo lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries to his head, chest, back, and right arm. The clergyman died from his injuries at the scene. The deceased is survived by a wife and two minor children aged four and seven.

At present, the prime suspect, Imam Hassan Musa, is evading justice, and police are conducting an investigation. Although Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of the country's population, the level of religious intolerance in the eastern regions of Uganda remains extremely high.

As the UOJ reported, in Egypt, police arrested Christians targeted in Muslim attacks.

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