Published: 10:30 GMT Daylight Time - Wednesday 23 July 2014
Christian teenager killed by machete in attack on church in Uganda
Country/Region: Africa, Kenya
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| Uganda is around 85% Christian |
An 18-year-old Christian woman was hacked to death and a one-year-old baby injured in a savage attack by Muslims during an overnight prayer meeting at a church in Uganda.
A group of around 20 Christians had gathered at Chali Born Victory Church in Kyegegwa district on 27 June for their regular Friday night prayer session when armed Muslims burst into the building at around 2am.
Pastor Jackson Turyamureba said he was preaching when he saw somebody peeping through a window:
I thought he was a drunkard and told him to either enter or go away. Shortly after that I heard doors being banged and men shouting ‘Allahu Akhbar’ (Allah is great) as they stormed the church brandishing pangas (machetes) and beating worshippers.
Beatrice Mukashaka (18) was killed and three others, including a one-year-old baby, were injured.
Pastor Jackson only narrowly escaped death. He said:
One of the attackers followed me and threw a panga which went over my head. I ran through a garden and the man who was pursuing me fell down and gave up the chase.
The assailants escaped to a nearby mosque and police surrounded the building. A police officer was killed when one of the attackers opened fire. Two suspects were arrested.
The incident prompted 40 families in the area to leave their homes.
Pastor Jackson said that the church has had problems with a group of Muslims in the area who had unsuccessfully tried to convert them to Islam. Church member Polly Tashobya added that the group said they wanted to transform Uganda into an Islamic nation and would kill anyone who refused to convert.
Attacks against Christians by Muslims in Uganda are relatively uncommon but are becoming more frequent. Although the country is around 85% Christian, Christians in predominantly Muslim areas live in a hostile context and converts from Islam are especially vulnerable.
A Barnabas Aid contact in Uganda said that some Muslims were seeking to advance jihad in the country by sending their children to hidden training schools.
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