News

Uganda: Muslims Ambush, Kill Pastor after He Compares Christianity and Islam in Radio Broadcast

November 10, 2020

Christian persecution in Uganda is generally not the government and law enforcement action we see in other countries. Instead, anti-Christian individuals often take matters into their own hands when they see Christians spreading the Christian message. Converts to Christianity are especially targeted. Some of them have lost loved ones; others have lost their property. Still others have been killed outright, and at times mobs have incited the police to act against the Christians.

All this happens despite the fact that Christians make up around 85% of Uganda’s population (there is a tiny minority of around 35,000 Orthodox Christians in that nation). The Order continues to pray for peace and safety for the Orthodox Christians and all Christians of Uganda.

For previous coverage of Christian persecution in Uganda, see here.

“Muslims Ambush, Kill Pastor after Radio Broadcast in Uganda,” Morning Star News, November 6, 2020:

NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – Muslim extremists killed a pastor in northern Uganda on Saturday (Oct. 31) after he compared Christianity and Islam in a radio broadcast, sources said.

David Omara, 64-year-old pastor of Christian Church Center and a well-known radio preacher in the area, was beaten and strangled after finishing his broadcast in Aduku, Kwania District at about 9 p.m., according to his son, Simon Okut.

“Immediately after his preaching, someone telephoned my father appreciating his presentation,” Okut told Morning Star News by phone. “He then requested him to meet somewhere with some of his friends. We left the radio station. As we arrived at the said place, there came out of the bush six people dressed in Islamic attire, and they started strangling and beating my father with blunt objects.”

As they beat him, one of the assailants said, “This man ought to die for using the Koran and saying Allah is not God but an evil god collaborating with satanic powers,” Okut said. “As they were hitting my father with blunt objects and strangling him, I fled to save my life. Two attackers ran after me but could not get hold of me.”

Area residents were shocked and saddened by the murder, and church members were both fearful of further Islamist violence and sorrowful as they mourned at a tearful burial on Wednesday (Nov. 4).

“My mother wept and fainted and collapsed with deep groaning and is admitted in the hospital,” Okut said….

The killing was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in 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, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.