This was a tragic event.
Sawuba Naigaga, a Ugandan woman, tragically fell victim to her 25-year-old son’s brutal assault, succumbing to her injuries in a hospital bed. Recounting the attack to a friend, Naigaga described how her son, Ashirafu Basalirwa, reacted aggressively when he heard her praying and invoking the name of Jesus upon his return from a four-year stint in Saudi Arabia.
During her prayer, Basalirwa interrupted, admonishing her for supposedly bringing disgrace to the family and the teachings of Allah. Naigaga remained silent, prompting her son to forcefully push her against a wall and strike her head with a blunt object, rendering her unconscious. The assault led to her hospitalization and eventual passing.
The friend who recounted Naigaga’s account had previously introduced her to Christianity, leading her to embrace Christ in 2022. Despite attending church together, Naigaga had kept her faith hidden from her family, including her son, for undisclosed reasons.
Basalirwa, who had pursued employment in Saudi Arabia after graduating from an Islamic university in Uganda, is now in hiding following the assault. Naigaga’s friend, hearing distressing sounds from Naigaga’s home, rushed to the scene, discovering her severely injured and unconscious. Despite immediate efforts to seek medical help, Naigaga’s injuries resulted in her death two days later due to internal bleeding.
This tragic incident reflects a distressing pattern of persecution against Christians in Uganda, a country where religious freedom is constitutionally protected, allowing individuals the right to freely practice and propagate their faith. Although the Muslim population in Uganda constitutes a minority, instances of religiously motivated attacks persist, causing significant concern.
Naigaga leaves behind a daughter, and her untimely death is another harrowing example of the challenges faced by Christians in Uganda due to their faith.