A pastor, Peter Kyakulaga, and a member of his church, Tuule Mumbya, have been drowned in a lake by hard-line Muslims in Uganda, East Africa.
Messrs Kyakulaga, 25, and Mumbya, 22, from Namuseru village, Gadumire Sun-Country in Kaliro District were drowned by the Muslims from Yugonyola village for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.
Morning Star News reports that the Christians who usually crossed the lake to go fishing, were always interacting and inviting the Muslims to evangelistic meetings but were warned by the latter to desist from doing so.
The newspaper reported that the last warning was given to them on June 21.
A relative of one of the Christians said one of the Muslims had told them (Christians) that they had discovered that their mission was not to fish but to hold Christian meetings with a view to converting the Muslims to Christianity.
“We are not going to take this mission of yours lightly; this is our last warning,” the Muslim was quoted as saying.
Chairperson of the local council from Namuseru village, David Nabiyoma, said some Christians came to his house at about 10 p.m. on June 22, requesting for help.
Nabyoma said, “They were requesting help, saying Muslims from Lugonyola had invaded the area around the lakeside, and several Christians were reported to have been injured, including my son.
“Immediately we rushed to the scene of the incident with several Christians. We hired four boats and drove to the lake and found out that two of the Christians had been badly beaten and drowned in the lake and died instantly.”
Morning Star News reports that Pastor Kyakulaga of the area Church of Christ congregation was survived by a wife and two children, ages two and four, while Mumbya left behind a wife and two-year-old child.
Their bodies have since been recovered from the lake.
Moves by Christians in the village to retaliate the killing on June 23 was discouraged by local officials, who pleaded with them and called in the police.
The police also arrested three persons in connection with the incident at the lake area.
Muslims make up more than 12 per cent of Uganda’s population and they are concentrated in the eastern areas of the country, Morning Star News said.
It also said 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.