MACHETE Attacks Silence Evangelists—Police Do Nothing…

Christian evangelists in eastern Uganda face a deadly pattern of violence following successful conversion events, with multiple murders in 2024 revealing a coordinated campaign of religious persecution that authorities have yet to stop.

A Disturbing Pattern Emerges in Eastern Uganda

The killings began in April when David Washume, a 38-year-old evangelist, was stabbed to death at 10 p.m. near Nabumali in Mbale District. He had just finished preaching in the villages of Nalondo and Buwalasi, where several Muslims converted to Christianity. His companion Wepuhulu survived the attack and provided details to police, who launched searches that produced no arrests. The pattern would repeat itself with chilling regularity throughout the year.

Evangelist killed after gospel event in Kampala, Uganda: Suspected Muslim extremists posing as moto-taxi drivers on April 9 killed an evangelist in central Uganda shortly after he preached at a gospel event, sources said. https://t.co/Yxi6TL894i pic.twitter.com/JO4jFkcl6A

— Christian Daily International (@ChDaily_News) April 20, 2026

Emmanuel Dikusooka met his end on October 30 in Kaliro District on the third day of a six-day evangelistic event. Eighteen Muslims had put their faith in Christ that day. Attackers killed both Dikusooka and church member Jack Mbulante as they traveled from the event. The deliberate timing sent an unmistakable message to other evangelists working in the region’s Muslim-majority areas.

Former Muslims Become Primary Targets

Konkona Kasimu represented a particularly threatening figure to extremists. The 42-year-old former Muslim led evangelistic dialogues in Busia town from December 8 to 12, leveraging his knowledge of the Quran to engage Muslim audiences. New Eden Church organized the event, sheltering the evangelistic team due to mounting threats. On December 12, as Kasimu’s motorcycle team traveled through Nakalama swamp toward Iganga, attackers struck. Survivor Recheal Kyakuwa later spoke from her hospital bed about the assault.

The most recent victim, Yowabu Sebakaki, endured escalating violence before his death. The 52-year-old evangelist from Nyanza village had been beaten in January after debating Muslim scholars. He received explicit threats demanding he stop his evangelistic work. At 6:20 p.m. on a recent evening, assailants armed with swords attacked him while he rode his bicycle. His murder followed the June killing of Richard Malinga, whose bound body was discovered after he shared the Gospel in the area.

The Geographical Reality of Religious Conflict

Eastern Uganda’s proximity to Kenya creates unique religious dynamics. The region hosts mixed Christian-Muslim populations where approximately 84 percent of Ugandans identify as Christian and 14 percent as Muslim nationally. Radical Islamic groups, including local cells possibly connected to the Allied Democratic Forces, operate in border areas. Open-air evangelistic events and dialogue sessions exploit public spaces where religious ideas compete directly, often producing dramatic conversion moments that enrage extremists enforcing apostasy taboos.

The attacks follow a consistent methodology. Assailants numbering four to six appear in Islamic attire, sometimes masked, speaking Arabic. They strike during vulnerable travel moments when evangelists ride motorcycles through isolated rural areas or swamps at night. Eyewitnesses describe coordinated ambushes using bladed weapons. The victims share common profiles: successful evangelists whose preaching produced Muslim conversions, traveling from events without security, moving through areas where attackers could predict their routes.

Authority Failures and Community Impact

Police response has proven ineffective. Despite eyewitness testimony, survivor accounts, and community searches, no arrests have occurred in any of the four cases. The lack of accountability emboldens attackers and heightens fear among evangelists who continue receiving threats. Church leaders describe the violence as targeted attacks specifically designed to stop evangelistic work that produces conversions. The grief spreading through Christian communities in eastern Uganda reflects both loss and intimidation.

The broader implications extend beyond individual tragedies. Open-air evangelism faces disruption as safety concerns override missionary zeal. Social divisions deepen in mixed-population areas where conversions now carry fatal consequences. Travel patterns shift as evangelists avoid isolated routes and nighttime movement. The violence reinforces global narratives of Christian persecution, prompting international prayer campaigns while local authorities fail to provide basic protection for religious freedom.