A 25-year-old pastor in Uganda was killed hours after participating in a public Christian-Muslim debate, with police reportedly investigating an imam who attended the event as a suspect.
Pastor Bernard Mulongo of New Restoration Church of Christ in Butebo District travelled to Mbale for the open-air interfaith dialogue on July 18, 2026. During the debate, two Muslim women reportedly converted to Christianity, a development that witnesses said heightened tensions.
Pastor David Omala, who attended the event, alleged that an imam identified as Hassan Musa became angry after the conversions and accused Mulongo of misleading Muslims and using the Quran to persuade people to embrace Christianity.
Later that evening, Mulongo appeared on a local radio programme before leaving on a motorcycle with friend Robert Mukisa. About nine miles outside Mbale, in Jami village, Mukisa said armed men on motorcycles intercepted them. According to Mukisa, one attacker accused the pastor of drawing people away from Islam. He fled and alerted police.
When officers and church leaders arrived, Mulongo was found dead with multiple injuries. He is survived by his wife and two young children. Police say investigations are ongoing, while Hassan Musa remains at large. The family has called for a thorough investigation and justice for those responsible.
