Ugandan Court Sentences Eight to Death for 2024 Killing of Two Men Described as Evangelists

IGANGA, Uganda —

The High Court sitting in Iganga, Uganda, has sentenced eight men to death for the Aug. 19, 2024, killing of two men in Namayingo District near the shore of Lake Victoria. Justice David Batema handed down the sentences on Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to Uganda's Daily Monitor.

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Morning Star News, a Christian news service that reports on persecution, said on Oct. 29 that the two victims, Robert Baguma and Moses Okech, were evangelists sent by their church in Iganga to preach to fishermen along the lakeshore. The outlet withheld the church's name for security reasons. It said the men were ambushed on their way back from the lake after a three-month outreach and were beaten, cut and stoned to death.

According to Morning Star News, witnesses said the attackers accused the evangelists of misleading people, tore their Bibles and shouted “Allah Akbar.” One witness, a woman who had become a Christian through the men's preaching, testified in the case, the outlet said. The church's pastor, who is not named, reported the killings to Iganga police the same day and told Morning Star News, “We are very happy with the court of law for the penalty given to the offenders.”

The Daily Monitor gave a different account of the motive. It reported that the victims, whom it named as Robert Bagume and Moses Okech and described as fishermen, were stopped by residents “over allegations of theft” after fishing on Lake Victoria, had their hands tied and were beaten by a mob at the home of the local council chairman. Post-mortem reports found both men died of head injuries from blunt force, the paper said. Morning Star News said at least one Ugandan outlet reported robbery as the motive to avoid stirring religious tensions, and that local Christians knew the attack was religious.

The Daily Monitor named the eight men sentenced as Odongo Misaki, the village council (LC1) chairman for Bukewa Central Zone, Karoli Lwanga, Musoke Yakuti, Kabwiso Mairadi, Talisuna Muzaham, Wandera Karim, Wasire Pius and Latifu Nyanga. State Attorney Jonathan Tumushime prosecuted the case for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. “Leadership carries the duty to uphold the law, not to preside over illegal execution,” Batema said, according to the paper.

Morning Star News said five of the men were convicted of the killings and that Misaki and two of his brothers were sentenced for being present and failing to call police. The killings took place in Bukewa Central village in Buhemba Sub-county, the Daily Monitor said. Watchman News has not independently confirmed the details.

It was not clear whether the men will appeal. In Uganda an execution requires the president's approval, and death sentences are often appealed or reduced to long prison terms, the two outlets noted. Uganda last executed civilians in April 1999, according to Morning Star News.

What we don't know yet: The motive is disputed. Morning Star News says the two men were evangelists killed for their faith, while Uganda's Daily Monitor reported a mob attack over alleged theft. The two reports also list the convicted men differently. Whether the men will appeal is not yet known.