Police Marine Unit conducting a search. FILE/COURTESY Photo.
Police in Namuseru village, Gadumire Sub-County in Kaliro District have arrested three suspects with offenses related to the torture and drowning of a pastor and Church member on account of evangelizing Muslims on Lake Nakuwa, a tributary of Lake Kyoga.
Officers identified the suspects as Sharifu Ngugo, Hassan Mwidu Gulumaire and Jafari Kadisi of Lugonyola village and took them to the Kaliro central police station.
Mr David Nabyoma, chairperson of the local council from Namuseru village told media reporters that Police and fishermen searched the lake and found the bodies on June 23.
The victims were identified as Pastor Peter Kyakulaga of Church of Christ and parishioner Tuule Mumbya.
Chairperson’s Account
Mr Nabyoma in his statement to media said Christian friends knocked on his door at 10 p.m. the night of June 22.
“They were requesting help, saying Muslims from Lugonyola had invaded the area around the lakeside, and several Christians were reported to have been injured, including my son,” he said.
“Immediately we rushed to the scene of the incident with several Christians. We hired four boats and drove to the lake and found out that two of the Christians had been badly beaten and drowned in the lake and died instantly,” he added.
Pastor Kyakulaga leaves behind his wife and two children, ages 2 and 4. Mumbya is survived by his wife and 2-year-old child.
“This is our last warning to you.”
According to U.S.-based Morning Star News, the hard-line Muslims had before this unfortunate incident warned the Christians to stop evangelizing in the area.
The last warning came on June 21, a day before they beat and drowned Pastor Peter Kyakulaga and Tuule Mumbya in the lake.
“We have discovered that your mission is not to fish but to hold Christian meetings and then convert Muslims to Christianity,” one of the Muslims had reportedly told the Christians on June 21, according to the relative. “We are not going to take this mission of yours lightly. This is our last warning to you.”
Several government officials, including the district police commander, resident district commissioner and other local leaders condemned the killings, Morning Star News reported. Church leaders pleaded with Christians to refrain from retaliating and pray.
