Tonny Onyulo
Tonny Onyulo is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Tonny Onyulo
Islamist Nigerian militants press attacks against Christians to foment religious war
By Tonny Onyulo — February 23, 2024
ABUJA, Nigeria (RNS) — The militants 'want to use religion to achieve their target of destabilizing the country and establishing an Islamic state,' said a local evangelical Christian pastor.
Catholic clergy in Uganda accuse the West of a new colonialism through LGBTQ activism
By Tonny Onyulo — January 25, 2024
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) — Most Ugandan Catholics oppose Pope Francis' recent move to allow priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples.
Congolese faith leaders step up efforts to promote dialogue among warring groups
By Tonny Onyulo — November 7, 2023
GOMA, Congo (RNS) — Church leaders are conducting weekly workshops to train traditional and church leadership in how to promote peace in their communities.
South Sudanese refugees, fleeing a second civil war in Sudan, return home to bleak prospects
By Tonny Onyulo — September 28, 2023
MALAKAL, South Sudan (RNS) — The situation has prompted religious leaders in South Sudan to appeal to the international community to aid returning refugees.
Amid deadly resurgence, Tanzanian officials maintain they can pray the ‘coronavirus devil’ away
By Tonny Onyulo — March 12, 2021
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (RNS) — Some religious leaders have even proclaimed the country free of the coronavirus because of the power of prayer. Meanwhile, the government has refused to report any data on the number of cases in the country.
Pentecostal pastors vow to fight proposed Uganda church regulations in court
By Tonny Onyulo — April 30, 2019
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) — Pentecostal pastors in Uganda vow to fight new rules that would require clergy to have formal theological education and would force all churches to register or close down. The proposed policy mimics similar rules enacted in Rwanda in 2018.
Rastafarianism, promising freedom, spreads among African youth
By Tonny Onyulo — April 17, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — A faith that originated in the Caribbean islands has drawn many adherents through its social justice and anti-colonialist messages.
Kenyan United Methodists oppose allowing LGBT clergy, pray for church unity worldwide
By Tonny Onyulo — February 18, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — United Methodist bishops in Africa want to keep the denomination's ban of LGBT clergy in place. But they also want the United Methodist Church to stay together no matter what happens at the upcoming General Conference in St. Louis. Delegates at that meeting will discuss possible changes to the denomination's rules.
Conflict between brothers splits Uganda’s thriving Abayudaya Jewish community
By Tonny Onyulo — January 31, 2019
MBALE, Uganda (RNS) — A conflict between two brothers over money and religious practice is splitting Uganda's century-old Abayudaya Jewish community.
Christian workers in Somalia worship in secret, fear al-Shabab
By Tonny Onyulo — January 7, 2019
MOGADISHU, Somalia (RNS) — Hundreds of Christians in Somalia, mostly foreigners from nearby countries, worship in secret out of fear of Muslim extremists.
Pushed by politicians, polygamy enjoys a heyday among Christians in Kenya
By Tonny Onyulo — January 4, 2019
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Despite opposition from local Catholic church leaders, young and old men have taken advantage of a 4-year-old law liberalizing the practice.
In Kenya, Pentecostal Christian moms tell husbands that girls are as good as boys
By Tonny Onyulo — November 16, 2018
BUNGOMA, Kenya (RNS) — Traditional culture here demands that women bear sons, but religious leaders say it's time for people to see that in God's eyes, both genders have equal worth.
‘Acknowledging reality,’ a splinter church in Kenya ordains married Catholic priests
By Tonny Onyulo — October 16, 2018
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Attracted by the prospect of serving God while raising a family, Catholic priests have left the mainstream faith for the Renewed Universal Catholic Church.
In Kenya, locals debate a boom in witch doctor tourism
By Tonny Onyulo — October 10, 2018
MOMBASA, Kenya (RNS) — Tourists normally come for snorkeling and lounging on sun-splashed beaches, but lately many come to seek the counsel of witch doctors about illnesses, runs of bad luck or bad marriages.
LBGT refugees say they face hostility, violence in Kenyan camp
By Tonny Onyulo — September 20, 2018
KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP, Kenya (RNS) – Many of their fellow refugees reportedly believe that homosexuality is wrong and gays must be punished.
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