A devastating attack on a Christian family in eastern Uganda has left three members dead after they were burned alive by a Muslim mob. The victims, 64-year-old Kaiga Muhammad, his wife Sawuya Kaiga, and their 26-year-old son Swagga Amuza Kaiga, had converted to Christianity just a month earlier, on 22 November. The family had kept their conversion a secret, fearing backlash from the local Muslim community, but were discovered by area Muslims who had seen them attending a church service.
The family’s conversion had been met with hostility by local Muslim leaders, who demanded that they renounce their new faith. When they refused, the Muslim community mobilized against them, and on 26 December, a mob set their house ablaze, burning the three family members beyond recognition. The police arrived too late to save the family, but have since arrested two suspects, Wangule Abudu and Ismail Njagi, who are being held on charges of murder and arson.
The attack is the latest incident of persecution against Christians in Uganda, where Muslims make up a minority of the population. Despite the country’s constitution guaranteeing religious freedom, Christians in Uganda often face hostility and violence from Muslim extremists. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Christian community in Uganda, highlighting the dangers faced by those who choose to convert to Christianity in a predominantly Muslim area.