Ugandan court drops kidnapping charges against evangelist who sheltered converts

A court in Uganda has dropped the charges of kidnapping and "human sacrifice" against an evangelist who had provided refuge to Muslims who converted to Christianity.

Hassan Muwanguzi, a lay leader with the Church of Uganda, was arrested on Feb. 26 after he was accused of kidnapping the 21-year-old daughter of a Muslim villager.

The complainant, Nghangha Mubakali, also accused Muwanguzi of making a human sacrifice of his daughter, according to Morning Star News.

The evangelist said that the daughter, Namusisi Budadu Biryeri, took refuge with him after her father beat her up for putting her faith in Christ in 2015.

On March 13, a court in Tirinyi, Kibuku District dismissed the charges after the complainant and his attorney failed to appear at the hearings twice.

Neither Mubakali nor his lawyer was present at the hearing on March 10, and they failed to appear in court again on March 13 when the charges were read against Muwanguzi. The evangelist's attorney then requested for the dismissal of the case since there was no public witness.

"The magistrate heard the request of my lawyer, and he said, 'The case has been dismissed,'" Muwanguzi narrated. "Immediately we left the courtroom, and as we got out we saw more than 15 Muslims, some dressed in Islamic attire, enter the court gate. We knew that they had come for hearing of the case," he added.

The evangelist said that his lawyer advised him to file a defamation case against his accusers so that he could be compensated, but he declined and said that he would forgive them.

Muwanguzi, a former Islamic teacher who has suffered life-threatening attacks from radical Muslims, said that he is grateful for the prayers and for the support of another pastor in Kibuku district at a time when his fears threatened to overcome him.

"Though I am still fearful from not knowing what the Muslims are now planning, the fears are now reduced," he said.

Just hours after he was released on bail on March 3, Muslims in eastern Uganda's Kachomo village, Budaka District went to a meeting, in which an Islamic teacher told them that Muwanguzi should be killed.

Muwanguzi, a father of six, has long housed converts from Islam despite threats from hard-line Muslims. He said he was grateful to the church members who prayed for him, but he is asking for more prayers because he is still fearful of being persecuted for continuously taking care of many converts from Islam.

"I need protection and support for these new converts. I know nothing will separate me from the love of Christ and in serving Him," he said.