SHIMBA THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER
Volume 7, Issue 4 — October 2025
ISSN: 2950-4125
Christian Teen Murdered by His Brother for Converting to Christianity in Uganda
A Case Study in Religious Persecution and the Challenge of Faith Freedom in Eastern Africa
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
This report examines a recent case of religiously motivated violence in Uganda, where a Muslim high school student fatally stabbed his younger brother following the latter’s conversion to Christianity. The incident underscores the growing tension between constitutional religious freedoms and sociocultural pressures within some Ugandan communities. Through a factual account and theological reflection, this article seeks to highlight the urgent need for protection of religious converts and the promotion of peaceful coexistence among adherents of different faiths.
1. Introduction
Religious freedom remains a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda and affirmed in international human rights conventions. However, despite these legal guarantees, incidents of persecution continue to emerge, particularly against Muslim converts to Christianity. On September 1, 2025, in Mbale City, Eastern Uganda, a tragic event unfolded when Akram Kairoki, a Muslim student, allegedly murdered his younger brother Shafiki Wasike for renouncing Islam and embracing the Christian faith.
2. The Incident
According to Morning Star News (October 1, 2025), the victim, Shafiki Wasike, aged 19, was a recent convert to Christianity. His conversion occurred on August 31, 2025, after attending an open-air evangelistic meeting organized by Bible Evangelism Ministries. The event featured a public debate between Pastor David Wabomba and a Muslim debater, Sheik Abudallah, focusing on the theological distinctions between Christianity and Islam.
Pastor Wabomba reported that after the debate, Wasike accepted Christ as his Savior and expressed deep joy about his new faith. However, later that evening, his brother, Akram, began sending threatening messages, accusing him of bringing shame upon their Muslim family and the broader Islamic community. Despite the threats, Wasike remained firm in his newfound faith.
Tragically, the following morning, while the two brothers were walking to school, Kairoki allegedly stabbed Wasike twice, once in the chest and once near the ribs. Eyewitnesses and classmates — Jonathan Kabaale, Ronald Mukhwana, and John Michael Musamali — rushed to the scene and attempted to save him by transporting him to a nearby hospital. Before succumbing to his wounds, Wasike reportedly said, “Why should my brother stab me? I have done nothing wrong to him. It is only changing my faith and joining the Christian faith.”
3. Police Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Following an intensive manhunt, Ugandan police arrested the suspect in Nakwigalo Cell, Busolwe Town Council, Butaleja District. According to Rogers Taitika, police spokesperson for the Elgon Region, the suspect has been charged with murder and awaits trial at Mbale City Police Station. Police officials have reiterated that under Ugandan law, individuals aged 15 and above can face prosecution for serious criminal offenses.
4. Funeral and Family Reaction
Wasike was laid to rest on September 8, 2025, at the family’s ancestral home in Kabwagasi Town Council. Pastor Wabomba, who officiated the funeral, reported that several family and clan members refused to participate in the burial, declaring Wasike an infidel for converting to Christianity. This rejection illustrates the deep-rooted cultural stigma and ostracism faced by religious converts in some communities within Uganda.
5. Religious Freedom and Persecution in Uganda
Uganda’s legal framework protects religious liberty, including the right to change one’s faith and to propagate religious beliefs. However, practical realities in certain regions — especially in eastern Uganda, where Muslim populations are more concentrated — reveal ongoing persecution against converts. Christian organizations and advocacy groups have documented several such incidents, raising concerns about the state’s enforcement of constitutional guarantees.
From a theological standpoint, this case reflects Jesus’ warning in Matthew 10:21-22, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Such passages illuminate the spiritual cost of discipleship and the courage required to confess Christ in hostile environments.
6. Theological Reflection
The martyrdom of converts like Shafiki Wasike reminds the Christian community of the enduring price of faith. His death echoes the apostolic suffering described in the early Church, where conversion often resulted in family conflict and societal rejection. Yet, as Scripture affirms in Romans 8:35-39, “Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ.”
The Church, both local and international, bears a moral obligation to advocate for such victims, offer support to converts, and engage in interfaith dialogue rooted in truth and compassion.
7. Conclusion and Recommendations
The case of Shafiki Wasike serves as a solemn reminder of the fragility of religious freedom and the cost of discipleship in certain parts of the world.
Recommendations:
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Strengthen legal protection for converts through active enforcement of constitutional rights.
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Enhance interfaith dialogue to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Provide pastoral care and discipleship training for new converts facing persecution.
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Encourage Christian advocacy networks to monitor and report incidents of religious violence.
References
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Morning Star News. “Christian Teen Murdered by Brother for Converting to Christianity.” October 1, 2025.
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Uganda Constitution, Chapter Four: Protection and Promotion of Fundamental and Other Human Rights and Freedoms.
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The Holy Bible (Matthew 10:21-22; Romans 8:35-39).
About the Author
Dr. Maxwell Shimba is the Founder and President of Shimba Theological Institute, a research and theological training center committed to advancing Christian scholarship, defending faith freedom, and promoting interreligious understanding. His academic work focuses on theology, religious liberty, and restorative justice.
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