Pastor Killed After Christian-Muslim Debate Leads To 2 Women Accepting Christ
Pastor Bernard Mulongo, 25, of the New Restoration Church of Christhas been killed in Mbale area of Uganda hours after participating in an interfaith religious debate, with investigators reportedly treating one of the event’s participants as a key suspect.
He had attended an open-air Christian-Muslim dialogue in Butebo District before joining a local radio programme to continue the discussion.
Fellow Pastor David Omala said the atmosphere around the debate grew volatile after two Muslim women publicly converted to Christianity in the course of the proceedings.
According to the Christian Post, Omala alleged that one of the Muslim participants became visibly angry following the event.
The Imam reportedly accused Pastor Mulongo of misleading Muslims and of using the Quran to draw people towards Christianity.
Mulongo had travelled to Mbale specifically for the religious event, and he believes the hostility that followed both the debate and the radio appearance may have played a role in what unfolded that night.
The deceased Pastor’s friend, Robert Mukisa, shared that the two were riding together on a motorcycle towards their accommodation when a group of men on motorcycles cut off their path in Jami village, roughly nine miles from Mbale.
Mukisa said one of the attackers accused the Pastor of drawing people away from Islam.
Mukisa fled the scene and immediately alerted police.
When officers and church leaders reached the location, Mulongo was found dead, bearing multiple injuries to his head, chest, back and hand.
His body was transferred to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem examination before being released to his family for burial in Butebo District.
Sources familiar with the investigation say the imam is among those under investigation and has allegedly gone into hiding.
Police launched an investigation, but no arrests had been announced at the time reports on the incident were published.
