Parents of Converts Attack Their Children: 'We Are Not Finished with You'

Stephen Muganzi of eastern Uganda had been threatened by Muslims before.  He never took them seriously.

He will now.

Last month, the 41-year-old Christian in the Kobolwa village, Kibuku District, took in a pair of teenage boys who had converted to Christianity seven months earlier.

According to Morning Star News, the two, whose names are being withheld for security purposes, finally revealed to their respective parents that they became Christians.  The parents questioned them and threatened to kill them.  And after they discovered that the boys fled to Muganzi's house, they threatened to kill him too.

"I started receiving threatening messages in my phone accusing me of converting the boys to Christianity, as well as housing them in my house without the parents' permission," Muganzi said.

The boys' fathers rounded up a group of vigilantes, who wound up setting fire to Muganzi's house.

"I signaled my family to take refuge," he said. "As the attackers drew nearer, I noticed that some of the people wore Islamic attire. There and then I also ran for my life. After 20 minutes, we saw fire coming out of my homestead. I then knew that the Muslims had burned my house."

An area pastor said Muganzi appeared "terrified" when he showed up at his church building with his family after fleeing the mob.  The church later sent an elder to check on the damage, who reported back that the loss is enormous.

Left on the scene: leaflets from the attackers.  One read, "Be informed that we are not finished with you yet.  Expect more, worse things are on the way."

Muganzi and the boys have since found shelter elsewhere.