Persecution of Christians in Uganda: the disturbing treatment of Janati Kyoleka by her husband illustrates yet again how conversion to Christianity is often the occasion for persecution of Christians — both of the converts and of those who brought the converts the word of the Gospel. Making matter even worse is the fact that Janati Kyoleka can likely expect little help from authorities in this matter, as they are likely to be either sympathetic to the attackers, or afraid of incurring their wrath themselves: “Kyoleka said she will not report the alleged assault to police as it could open possibilities for Muslim relatives to take custody of the children.” This is one of the reasons why Christian persecution worldwide is escalating: in all too many countries around the world, authorities tacitly approve of the attacks on Christians or actively instigate them, or else are afraid of standing up to the persecutors.
Among the Christians of Uganda are around 35,000 Orthodox Christians. Please pray for perseverance and strength of faith for them and all of Uganda’s Christians.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of Christian persecution in Uganda, see here.
“Christian Mother in Uganda Hit with Acid for Her Faith, Sources Say,” Morning Star News, February 26, 2021:
NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – A Christian couple visiting a young mother at her home in eastern Uganda last month decided to pray for her before leaving – triggering an immediate response from her Muslim husband.
“In the middle of the prayers, my husband walked out and began calling Muslims and mentioning that infidels were at his house,” 25-year-old Janati Kyoleka, who had secretly put her faith in Christ in December, told Morning Star News. “When my friends saw the Muslims approaching the homestead, they took off.”
The mother of children ages 5, 2 and a 5-month-old in Nakisimi village, Pallisa District had begun following Christ when her second child received healing prayer at a Christian hospital on Dec. 14. On the afternoon of the visit from the Christian couple, Jan. 19, her husband, Jafari Biisa, returned home with the Muslim villagers, she said.
“My husband began questioning me whether I had embraced Christianity,” Kyoleka told Morning Star News. “I kept quiet. He started beating me with sticks, and my 5-month-old began crying, and before the arrival of the neighbors, my husband had already poured acid on me, and I lost all consciousness.”
Kyoleka regained consciousness in a hospital bed in Mbale. She had acid burns on the right side of her body from breast to thigh, including private parts, she said.
Members of the church Kyoleka had secretly attended took her children into their care. Two weeks later, the Christian couple transferred her to a hospital in Kapchorwa, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Pallisa, where she received treatment for another week before mounting medical costs forced to leave.
The Christian couple is trying to help her recover at their home, where the three children have rejoined their mother.
“The responsibility of taking care of Kyoleka and her three children is not easy, but God will give us sufficient grace and providence,” said a member of the Christian family, whose identity is withheld.
Kyoleka is receiving medical check-ups at the hospital in Kapchorwa….
Kyoleka said she will not report the alleged assault to police as it could open possibilities for Muslim relatives to take custody of the children….
