Pastor Seriously Injured in Machete Attack Outside Church in Eastern Uganda

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

KALIRO, Uganda (Worthy News) – A Christian pastor was seriously injured after being attacked by a group of Muslim assailants wielding sharp objects in eastern Uganda, according to an exclusive report by Morning Star News.

Pastor Joseph Kanooni of the Revival Mission Centre Church was assaulted on December 21 at about 6 p.m. while alone inside his church compound in Kaliro, where he was preparing for an overnight prayer service. Pastor Kanooni said five Muslim men confronted him, accusing him of “misleading their children” by encouraging them to attend church.

The attackers, armed with sticks and sharp objects, reportedly beat the pastor until he lost consciousness. From his hospital bed, Pastor Kanooni told Morning Star News that he tried to defend himself but was overwhelmed by the group. He later regained awareness while receiving medical treatment.

Church members arriving later found him badly wounded behind the church building. He sustained deep cuts to his hand and back and was calling out for help. Solomon Kiseka, a member of the congregation, said they had brought food to the pastor and began searching when they could not find him inside the church. He was rushed to a nearby clinic for first aid before being transferred to a hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Pastor Kanooni identified two of the alleged attackers as Ismael Mukulu and Fahadi Kuluza, men he said had previously threatened him following public religious debates during evangelistic outreaches.

Police in eastern Uganda were reportedly searching for five suspects connected to the attack, though no official statement had been released at the time of reporting. Local church leaders condemned the assault and urged authorities to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice, while also calling for calm among local communities.

Over the past 40 years, Uganda has seen explosive Gospel growth, emerging from political turmoil to become one of Africa’s most vibrant Christian nations. Evangelical and Pentecostal movements spread rapidly through revivals and church planting, and today over 85% of Ugandans identify as Christian.

Although Uganda’s constitution and laws guarantee “religious freedom,” including the right to “propagate” faith and convert, Christian converts often face attacks in practice.

Muslims comprise about 12% of Uganda’s population, but Christians face the most pressure in the eastern regions, where Muslim communities are highly concentrated.

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