Court acquits city pastors in Kayanja sodomy case
AQUITTED: Pastors Kayiira (C) and Kyazze before Mwanga II Court last year.
A city magistrates court yesterday dismissed charges of conspiracy against two pastors who were accused of tarnishing the image of Pastor Robert Kayanja.
Mwanga II Grade One magistrate Esther Nakadama said the State failed to present witnesses to testify against pastors Robert Kayiira and Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Ministries.
“Not a single witness and not even investigating officer Ms Grace Akullo was able to prove and provide court with evidence that the two pastors agreed to tarnish the name of Pastor Kanyaja,” she said.
Criminal trespass
Ms Nakadama, however, ordered Pastor Kayiira to defend himself against the charge of criminal trespass.
She set February 8 for the hearing of the case against Pastor Kayiira.
Pastors Kayiira and Kyazze were charged with alleged criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, a charge they deny.
Prosecution alleges that on April 17 last year, Pastor Kayiira entered at Rubaga Miracle Centre, with intent to intimidate, insults or annoy Pastor Kayanja.
Pastor Kayanja came under the spotlight early last year when his fellow Pentecostal pastors accused him of sodomising some members of his church.
About a month ago, city advocate Henry Ddungu and pastor Moses Solomon Male were also arrested and detained over alleged conspiracy to injure the reputation of Pastor Kayanja.
Pastors Martin Sempa, Kyazze, and Kayiira, were accused of hiring Robson Matovu to blackmail Pastor Kayanja.
Court heard that Pastor Male reportedly gave Mr Matovu a signed and stamped affidavit implicating Pastor Kayanja while Samson Mukisa was reportedly promised necessities on condition that he would speak publicly on how Pastor Kayanja had sodomised him.
A police report then indicated that complaints of sodomy against Pastor Kayanja did not reveal any evidence to the offences. “In retracting their statements, the complainants said they had been mobilised to make false accusations against Pastor Kayanja in order to tarnish his name,” the report said.
