February 10, 1973 - Idi Amin Executes Three Christians

Widely remembered for his violent regime and severe persecution of Christians during the 1970s, Idi Amin, the dictator of Uganda, forced approximately 3,000 Ugandans to gather in a stadium in Kabale, Uganda. Here, Amin’s military publicly assassinated three Christian believers solely because of their Chrisitan faith. Witnesses reported that in spite of the horrifying circumstances, the three Christians smiled and waved to the crowd just moments before their execution. The onlookers found their visible peace in the face of death deeply unsettling, yet this peace became a testament to the power of Christian faith, even under persecution. Contrary to Amin’s intentions, this public martyrdom contributed to the spread of the Gospel in Uganda and unveiled the brutality of Amin’s anti-Christian policies.

The martyrdom of these Ugandan Christians reminds modern-day believers of the reality of global Christian persecution and the enduring power of faith in Christ. Their peace in the face of death points to the hope of gospel and the assurance believers find in eternal life through Jesus Christ. This event is a sobering reminder, especially to Christians living where religious freedom is protected, that many Christians pay for their faith worldwide. It also challenges the church to pray for persecuted Christians, support global missions, and recognize that faithful witness, even in suffering, can powerfully advance the gospel and draw others to Christ.

Photograph sourced from Wikimedia Commons.