Missions, The Persecuted Church Across the World

Christian Evangelist Slain in Eastern Uganda – July 3rd

Morning Star News, June 28, 2024 (excerpts)

An evangelist who had received death threats from Muslim extremists was killed after leading Muslims and others to Christ on June17 in eastern Uganda, sources said.

The body of evangelist Richard Malinga was found in the evening in Butebo District after he had texted his pastor that he was surrounded by Muslims, sources said. He was 36.

A Baptist church in Pallisa District had sent him to visit homes with the gospel, his pastor said. He left his hometown in Pallisa District the morning of June 17 to share about Christ in Butebo District, and several people put their faith in Christ, including some radical Muslims, said his church’s senior pastor.

“The evening of June 17, I received a short message from Malinga of being surrounded by the Muslims,” said the pastor, whose name is withheld for security reasons. “I wrote back to him several times, but there was no response.”

Malinga had been receiving threatening messages from Muslim extremists, the pastor said.

An area resident found Malinga’s body.

“I heard a loud wailing at around 7:30 p.m. on the main road,” said the resident on condition of anonymity. “We found the victim in a pool of blood, dead and tied with ropes.”

Police began a manhunt the next day.  The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.