On Nov. 3, Kabugho Kasfa and Muhindo Ashraf endured a horrific attack after their father discovered their decision to follow Christ.

Their father instantly attacked them after he heard them singing a Christian song.

“He became as dangerous as a lion and started beating us with heavy blows,” Kasfa said. “I could not bear watching him choke my brother, almost to the point of death. I became terrified and began screaming for help, fearing that he might take our lives. Knowing that I would attract the attention of Christians, he wanted to tie our mouths with a cloth. I had no choice but to bite him to save my life.” 

Ashraf’s journey to Christianity began at his school in Mpondwe, Uganda, where he attended chapel services and interacted with Christian classmates.

Through the chapel teachings, he learned about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which sparked his interest in understanding the Christian faith. However, biblical teachings were not the only influence. The kindness and conduct of his Christian friends also left a lasting impression. 

“Dad always taught us to hate non-Muslims and view Christians as our enemies, but ever since I started school, my experiences have been completely different,” Ashraf said. “The Christian students have welcomed me with such genuine kindness and friendship that it is making me seriously reconsider everything we were raised to believe.” 

As Ashraf continued learning about the gospel, he became convinced that Jesus was God and that he wanted to surrender his life to him. He eventually accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and shared his newfound faith with his sister, Kasfa, who also decided to follow Christ. 

Nowhere to Turn

Their decision, however, came at a terrible cost. Kasfa recounted how she watched in terror as their father beat them and choked her brother. Fearing for their lives, she screamed for help until some Christians heard their cries and rushed to their rescue. They helped the siblings escape and took them to a hiding place. 

The ordeal left the two young converts without a home or their family’s protection. Having already lost their mother, they now found themselves rejected by the very person who was supposed to protect them. 

“We had already lost our mother, and now the very person who was supposed to protect us was hurting us and driving us away,” Kasfa said. “We have nowhere to go and do not know where we shall spend the night.” 

Although Uganda’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, reports of violence against converts are fairly common. Muslims comprise no more than 12% of Uganda’s population, with most concentrated in the East. 

Despite everything they had endured, Kasfa thanked the Christians who had come to their rescue. She acknowledged that they did not know what would have happened to them if nobody had heard their cries. She added that they had only wanted to follow Jesus Christ, but that decision had cost them their home and the protection of their family. 

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