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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

Francis Namukubalo (2010)
Ambushed and Killed

When Francis’ father, a Muslim sheikh, converted to Christianity in 1998, the rest of the family soon became believers in Christ. They were passionate to share their new faith around the strongly Muslim part of Uganda where they lived, Bubyangu Sub County, Mbale District. This was met with resistance from their Muslim neighbours and threats against the family became commonplace. On 21 September 2010 Francis, a married father of three with another baby on the way, went to visit his father. After spending the day with him, Francis set off on foot for home – but never returned. He was lured into an ambush by two supposed friends, then set upon and stabbed to death by a group of around 20 Muslims.

When Francis did not come home, his family were worried and a search party was sent out to look for him. Francis’ severely maimed body was found in a river; he had been stabbed repeatedly in the ribs and left hand, and his ears and tongue had been chopped off. It is a superstition of the folk Islam practised in the region that by removing the tongue, the victim’s spirit cannot come back through another person to reveal the facts surrounding his death. Influential Muslim leaders in the village are believed to have been behind Francis’ murder.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!

John Newton (1725-1807)