A 37-year-old father of four has been murdered after taking part in a Christian-Muslim debate in eastern Uganda – an event at which 13 Muslims put their faith in Christ.
Ahamada Mafabi was returning from the debate in Nakaloke, Mbale when men on motorcycles shouting the jihadist slogan Allah Akbar (God is great), knocked him to the ground and cut his neck with a long Somali knife. He is survived by his wife and four children, aged three to 14, all of whom have been relocated for their own safety.
One pastor involved said: ‘Muslims responded openly to receiving Christ’ at the public debate. ‘But there were shouts from others demanding that Mafabi leave the meeting, saying: ‘Stop your blasphemous utterance of equating Issa [Jesus] to God, calling him the Son of God.’
Mafabi himself had left Islam to put his faith in Christ in December 2020 after several meetings with the pastor. At first the pastor housed him to protect him from Islamists upset with his conversion; later his church rented a house for his family to live in.
Mbale, Uganda
Having a good knowledge of both Islam and Christianity, Mafabi helped the pastor begin Christian-Muslim debates in mid-2021, and in one year more than 100 Muslims put their faith in Christ. Mafabi faced severe Islamist hostility, escaping four assassination attempts.
The pastor also received threatening text messages. One read: ‘Stop taking our members to your church. Let this be known to you that your church and your life is at risk.’ The pastor requested prayer for Mafabi’s widow and her children, who now need financial support for food, shelter and school fees. He also expressed concern for his ministry’s newly built centre for converts from Islam, where they are discipled and trained in job skills to make up for losing employment because of their faith.
The crime has been reported and police are investigating. ‘I have some fears, but this is part of the spiritual warfare that comes with Christian persecution, and I am ready to face it,’ the pastor 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. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Uganda’s population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
