A Ugandan man who converted from Islam to Christianity was killed by his own family in a brutal attack after they discovered him praying to Jesus in his home.
Kasajja Abdul Maliki, 37, was attacked on Friday, July 24, 2025, in his home in Kaliro village, eastern Uganda.
According to local sources, his Muslim relatives became enraged after hearing him pray “in the name of Issa [Jesus]” during a time when he was expected to be at the mosque.
Maliki had quietly embraced Christianity after attending an evangelistic crusade in April, 2025. Since then, he had been secretly studying the Bible and avoiding Friday prayers at the mosque something that raised concern among his family.
“He was praying for the family when they killed him” the source said.
On the day of the attack, Maliki had locked himself inside his home during mosque hours to pray and read the Bible, a routine he had kept since his conversion. His niece, Shamina, who lives nearby, overheard him praying loudly and alerted the rest of the family.
“He was asking Jesus to save our family,” my father and other relatives rushed to the house. When they forced the door open, they found him praying with a Bible beside him.” her sister Shamina said.
What followed was a shocking and violent scene.
“The family started shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and began beating him with their fists,” Shamina said. “Soon more people came some with knives and sticks, led by my father and uncle. My father stabbed him in the chest.”
Despite cries for help, neighbors were too late to save Maliki. “We found him bleeding heavily and rushed him to a nearby clinic,” but he died on the way,” one neighbor said.
Maliki converted to Christianity during a four-day outreach event held from April 9–12, 2025 in Kaliro town. A local pastor, who remains unnamed for his safety, said Maliki came forward during the event and was taken in for discipleship.
“He was eager to learn. I taught him for a week at my home,” the pastor shared. “He later started attending Bible studies every two weeks and took part in our church’s welding training. We were preparing to help him open his own workshop.”
Maliki’s absence from Friday mosque prayers, combined with a neighbor reportedly spotting him at a church compound, stirred suspicion in the weeks before his death.
While Uganda’s constitution protects religious freedom, the reality is more dangerous for Muslim-background believers especially in the eastern part of the country, where the Muslim population is highest.
As of this report, no arrests have been made. The attackers, including Maliki’s father and uncle, remain at large. The local Christian community is devastated and fearful.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen this,” many Muslims who become Christians are forced to hide their faith or pay for it with their lives,” the pastor said.
Human rights groups and church leaders are calling on Ugandan authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible. They also urge the global Church to pray for converts at risk.
Despite the fear and pain, those who knew Maliki remember his passion for Jesus and hope for a better life.
“He had found peace in Christ,” he wanted to help others, to live quietly and support his family. Instead, they killed him while he was praying for them,” the pastor added.
Maliki’s death highlights the growing danger for Christian converts in Uganda and serves as a sobering reminder of the high cost of faith in places where religious freedom is fragile.
