Sodomy case: pastors protest over delayed court judgment
Pastors Martin Ssempa, Solomon Male (C), Michael Kyazze at the court yesterday. PHOTO BY DOMINIC BUKENYA
What you need to know:
Pastors furious that judge went on leave before delivering judgment.
Kampala
The four city pastors who were convicted of defaming Rubaga Miracle Centre Pastor Robert Kayanja, protested after court failed to deliver its judgment on their appeal as scheduled.
Pastors; Solomon Male of Arising for Christ Church, Martin Sempa of Makerere Christian Centre, Robert Kayiira and Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Ministries together with Dorothy Kyomuhendo, a former State House aide, and artiste David Mukalazi previously petitioned the High court seeking it to nullify their conviction. They are accused of saying that Pastor Kayanja sodomises his male flock.
The appellants showed up at High Court yesterday expecting Justice Joseph Murangira to deliver judgment on the appeal but they were informed that the judge is on leave so judgment will be on notice at an unknown date.
Speaking to Daily Monitor Pastor Ssempa asked: “We have been suffering with guilt for the past four years since we feel our conviction was not fair. A leave is never abrupt, why did Justice Murangira give us this day if he knew well that he would be off?” He added: “We feel there is an intention to traumatise us because we are against homosexuality. This confirms it is not the laws that are corrupt but the country’s judicial system.”
Pastor Male also weighed in that the state should never be surprised if the masses choose to resolve disputes through mob justice since the actions of the judges present the judiciary as a rotten system.
