“When a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it produces many seeds”
[Jun.09.2022] A young Ugandan pastor who was attacked by Islamic extremists died on May 26, Morningstar News reported on the 3rd of June.
According to a source, on May 20, Islamic extremists stormed the Bukomero Miracle Center Church in Bukomero, Kiboga, about 75 miles northwest of Kampala, Uganda. The church held an evangelism event and distributed Bibles in the predominantly Muslim area last month.
The village resident Sheikh Musa Lwanga on May 20 led a Muslim mob brandishing swords, axes, and sticks, who attacked the church building, shouting the jihadist slogan, “Allah Akbar [Allah is greater].” As a result, the young pastor Emmanuel Mugabi suffered deep wounds to his leg and head, including being hit in the head with an ax. He was treated for a week but eventually died at the age of 32.
Before he died, Mugabi identified the first person to deliver an ax blow to his head as Musa Serunjoji. A church elder who lives near the church site also identified two area Muslims, Serunjoji and Ahmad Tulyagumanawe, and said that they fled from the site.
Mugabi also said that others whom he could not identify struck him on the leg, chest, and back. His body was buried on Sunday (May 29) in Kakunyu village, Bukomero. The chief of the local police post, Lydia Ashaba, said officers opened a case against the assailants and would soon apprehend and charge them.
But the violence did not stop here. Asaf and Associate Pastor Ivan Serunjoji sustained injuries when they were attacked by Muslim extremists while returning from the burial of Mugabi’s body, the bishop said.
Asaf, his son, and Serunjoji were stopped by the mobs who were shouting his name. “They had long sticks and iron bars, and they started beating us.”, Asaf said. Asaf identified three of the assailants as Musa Serunjoji, Tulyagumanawe, and Faizo Ankunda, all involved in the burning and destruction of the church building.
Just in time, the mob fled when a car light was lit by an elder in a neighboring church who was on his way to the Bukomero Health Center with his wife who was giving birth. Bishop Asaf said Tulyagumanawe, who led the church’s destruction, jumped into the river and died. The two pastors are being treated at a nearby hospital and are being treated by a doctor for injuries to their heads, hands, legs, and back.
The police recovered the body of Tulyagumanawe from the river on Monday morning (May 30). They were still searching for the other assailants. Bukomero is a predominantly Muslim community with four large mosques. “The Muslims are very hostile to any new religion that comes into the community,” Asaf said(Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper).
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.(John 12:24)
God, we pray that the death of a young pastor who served the gospel all his life, who knew what evangelism to Muslims will bring, will bear much fruit in Uganda. May You help Muslims, who commit evil deeds according to false beliefs without knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ, to realise their thirst and seek the truth. Please comfort the bereaved family and strengthen the church with the blood of martyrdom poured out on this land. We pray that the lost souls may hear the news of salvation and gain eternal life.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
