Three Muslim extremists killed a Christian man in eastern Uganda for sharing the Gospel with Muslims.

Simolya Latifu, 47, of Molu village in the Kibuku District was killed with a sword on July 3 after leaving an evening service at Christ Discipleship Worship Center in Molu. 

According to Morning Star News, three witnesses, who hid during the attack, heard wailing and calls for help at a nearby swamp around 7:15 p.m.

The witnesses were able to recognize the alleged attackers as Ali Buyinza, Muhammad Kamunyani and Jamada Walyomba.

“The killers were condemning him for converting Muslims to Christianity,” one witness told Morning Star News. “We saw Buyinza cut him on the head with a sword, and thereafter they left. We remained there for about 30 minutes, and then we took courage and slowly went to see the slain man and discovered that he worshipped with us at Christ Discipleship Worship Center.”

The witnesses informed Pastor Emmanuel Muzei who filed a report with local police.

Police arrested Buyinza, taking him to Kibuku police station amid tight security as residents sought to kill him. Officers are still searching for the other two suspects.

Latifu had converted to Christianity in June 2019, then fled to the Lira District after leading several Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ. He believed that Muslim extremists had stopped looking for him, so he returned to the Kibuku District in February, Muzei recalled.

“Angry Christian residents flooded to Molu village swamp to mourn the death of their beloved convert from Islam who had been going from one church to another testifying about how he converted to Christianity,” Muzei said. “His testimony was an encouragement to many Christians in my church and led many to Christ. We have lost a dynamic evangelist.”

Latifu is survived by his wife and five children.