Morning Star News, May 2, 2021
Muslims in eastern Uganda upset with a pastor’s plans to build a church on land they sought to buy are suspected in his death by poisoning.
Pastor Oduchu was poisoned on April 5 after he declined to sell a five-acre lot to Muslims who wanted to build a school and mosque on the land, said his brother.
“Opeduru and a number of Muslims had approached my brother to sell them the land several times, but my brother declined because their offer was small, and he also wanted part of the land set aside for constructing a church. Later my brother received a threatening message from Opeduru saying he would not negotiate with him again.”
Opeduru told Pastor Oduchu the Muslims did not want a church building close to their proposed mosque, but a week later the pastor began clearing the parcel of land.
Pastor Oduchu usually ate at a small hotel when visiting his land. The hotel is owned by a Muslim.
The pastor’s wife said after a light meal at the hotel on April 5, he arrived home complaining of severe stomach pains, diarrhoea and started vomiting. “We rushed him to a nearby clinic, and he succumbed to poisoning.”
When angry residents questioned the hotel owner, he confessed that Muslims had given him poison to put in Pastor Oduchu’s food. Police arrested Opeduru in connection with the killing.
Mary Oduchu requested prayer and financial help for living expenses and the children’s school fees.