Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Overview and Demographics

Article 7 of the Constitution of Uganda states that the country does not have a state religion, while article 21 guarantees freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion and article 29 protects the freedom of religion (Uganda 1995). The US Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report for 2018 indicates that religious groups must register with the government (US 21 June 2019, 2).

The 2014 Ugandan National Population and Housing Census lists the following percentages of population for major religious groups in the country:

• Roman Catholic: 39.3 percent;
• Anglican: 32 percent;
• Muslim: 13.7 percent;
• "Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical": 11.1 percent (Uganda 2014, 19).

However, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, as reported by the US Department of State, estimates that the Muslim community makes up "closer to 25% of the population" (US 21 June 2019, 1). According to the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda to the United States, the Muslim population is concentrated in the east of the country, in Iganga District (Uganda n.d.). Similarly, in its International Religious Freedom Report for 2016, the US Department of State describes the Iganga District in the Eastern Region as having "the highest percentage of Muslims" (US 15 Aug. 2017, 2).

2. Treatment of Converts to Christianity

The US International Religious Freedom Report for 2018 reports that a "pastor and Christian convert from Islam," who had been attacked by acid in 2012, allegedly to "avenge his conversion," had his house broken into by Muslim individuals on 4 October 2018 (US 21 June 2019, 3-4). The report further states that although the Ugandan Police Force said they would investigate, there were no findings in the case as of the end of 2018 (US 21 June 2019, 3-4). An article published in the New Vision Ugandan newspaper reports that the break-in took place despite the presence of two police officers and that the files from the case were "missing" (New Vision 4 Oct. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Open Doors, an organization that provides resources and support to, and advocates for, persecuted Christians (Open Doors n.d.), ranks Uganda just outside the top 50 countries in which Christians are persecuted, and reports that "Christian groups living in areas affected by the presence of Islamic extremists face persecution. Converts in particular face major problems and find it difficult to live a normal life" as they are unable to discuss their faith with family members or neighbours and may be attacked for possessing Christian materials (Open Doors 2018). The same source adds that "[b]ullying and harassment are very common in eastern parts of the country" (Open Doors 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The following incidents were reported by Morning Star News, an "independent news service focusing exclusively on persecution of Christians" that "relies on a network of professionally trained, veteran journalists around the world" (Morning Star News n.d.).

• On 15 June 2019, a convert from Islam to Christianity, who had been living in a building belonging to the village church after having been attacked and forced to leave the family home by his stepfather, was attacked by a group of "local Muslims with sticks and Somali swords" who called for his death. The young man was unable to return to his home (Morning Star News 2 July 2019).
• On 25 May 2019, a group of Muslim residents of Bwera, western Uganda, "threatened to kill all former Muslims who embraced Christianity in Bwera" and called for all open-air prayer meetings to be banned (Morning Star News 3 June 2019).
• On 10 March 2018, a young convert to Islam from Christianity was attacked by people he alleges were family members, who poured hot oil on him. He was sheltered in the home of a Christian neighbour. The source reports that the man "has not reported the attack to police as that would expose those hiding him to attacks from his immediate family and other relatives" (Morning Star News 23 Mar. 2018).
• On 16 November 2017, a former Islamic teacher who had converted to Christianity was physically attacked by people who also threatened him with death unless he "'recant[ed] Christianity and return[ed] to Islam'." The source reports that the assault was under police investigation but had not led to any arrests (Morning Star News 7 Dec. 2017).
• On 20 September 2017, a young man who had converted to Christianity from Islam was attacked by family members armed with sticks. The pastor who sheltered him also received death threats (Morning Star News 10 Oct. 2017).

Corroborating information regarding these events could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. State Protection and Resources for Religious Converts

Information on state protection and resources for religious converts could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Morning Star News. 2 July 2019. "Unable to Finish School for Becoming Christian, Young Man in Uganda Faces Bleak Future." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Morning Star News. 3 June 2019. "Converts, Pastors Threatened with Death; Gospel Meetings Banned in Town in Uganda." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Morning Star News. 23 March 2018. "Muslim Relatives of New Christian in Eastern Uganda Attack Him With Hot Oil." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Morning Star News. 7 December 2017. "Christian in Uganda who Lost Family to Muslims Beaten Unconscious." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Morning Star News. 10 October 2017. "Muslim Father in Uganda Drives Son from Home for Becoming Christian." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Morning Star News. N.d. "About Morning Star News." [Accessed 10 July 2019]

New Vision. 4 October 2018. Francis Emorut. "Pastor Mulinde Fears for His Life After Home Is Burgled." [Accessed 27 June 2019]

Open Doors. 2018. "Persecution Watch Countries: Beyond the Top 10." [Accessed 15 July 2019]

Open Doors. N.d. "About." [Accessed 15 July 2019]

Uganda. 2014. Uganda Bureau of Statistics. National Population and Housing Census 2014. [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Uganda. 1995. Constitution of Uganda. [Accessed 8 July 2019]

Uganda. N.d. Embassy of the Republic of Uganda to the United States. "Religion." [Accessed 8 July 2019]

United States (US). 21 June 2019. Department of State. "Uganda." International Religious Freedom Report for 2018. [Accessed 27 June 2019]

United States (US). 15 August 2019. Department of State. "Uganda." International Religious Freedom Report for 2016. [Accessed 16 July 2019]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Alliance Defending Freedom; European Centre for Law and Justice; Faiths Together Uganda; Inter-Religious Council of Uganda; Jubilee Campaign; Uganda Joint Christian Council.

Internet sites, including: Alliance Defending Freedom; L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde; Amnesty International; The Christian Post; ecoi.net; Encyclopaedia Britannica; European Centre for Law and Justice; Express (UK); Factiva; Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Christian Concern; The Jerusalem Post; Joshua Project; Minority Rights Group International; Pew Research Center – Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project; Sight Magazine; UN – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld; World Watch Monitor.