Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral's Pastor Robert Kayanja in the dock at Mwanga II Court in Mengo on October 18, 2024. PHOTO | ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Court has directed nine youths to defend themselves against charges of trespassing at Miracle Centre Cathedral, Kampala and falsely accusing its pastor, Robert Kayanja of sodomy.
Mwanga II court presided over by Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate, Adams Byarugaba ruled that the evidence adduced by the Chief State Attorney, Jonathan Muwangaya from the 13 witnesses against the group warrants them to explain themselves.
The evidence included audio recordings, medical examination forms and phone call data records, among others, according to the magistrate.
“There are pieces of information adduced by the state which establishes a prima facie case against the accused persons of giving false information, conspiracy to defeat justice, conspiracy to commit a felony, and criminal trespass,” Mr Byarugaba said.
Adding: "The evidence in my view, is sufficient to call for an explanation from the nine accused persons, and for that reason, I find that the accused have a case to answer and are accordingly placed on their defense in respect of the charges against them as the court would want to hear what they have to say."
The state claims that Peter Serugo, 21; Reagan Ssentongo, 21; Moses Tumwine, 25; Khalifah Labeeb, 22; Alex Wakamala, 22; Martins Kagolo, 22 and others still at large, went to Rubaga Miracle Centre on September 17, 2021, intending to insult and annoy Pastor Kayanja.
Other suspects are Israel Wasswa, 25; Jamil Mwanda, 22 and Aggrey Kinene, 21.
The prosecution further alleges that the accused, and others still at large, at Kawempe Police Station in Kampala, gave Detective Inspector of Police Cotilda Nandutu information that Pastor Kayanja had sodomised them, which they knew was false.
The accused, save for Wasswa, are charged with criminal trespass and giving false information against Pastor Kayanja while Wasswa is charged with two counts of conspiracy to defeat justice and conspiracy to commit a felony after he allegedly falsely accused Kayanja of unnatural offences.
“The prosecution has adduced overwhelming evidence to the effect that the accused persons who were employees at Lubaga Miracle centre misused their salaries and later came up with a plan to get more money from Pr Kayanja…..That in the meeting at Tal cottages , the suspects hatched a plan to falsely accuse Pastor Kayanja of sodomising them thinking that when he hears of the allegations, he (Kayanja) would definitely give them money to drop the accusations and clear his name,” Mr Byarugaba said.
On the fateful day, the youths allegedly forced their way into Miracle Centre Cathedral, shouted vulgarities, and intentionally annoyed Pastor Kayanja and after their arrest and detention, they recorded statements with false information, claiming they had been sodomized by the pastor.
The court rejected the defence lawyers' argument that there was no proof of a common intention to annoy Pastor Kayanja, agreeing with the chief prosecutor that conspiracy can be inferred through special circumstances.
The nine youths, three of whom are still on remand, are expected to return to court on January 24, 2025 for the mention of their case. The others were freed on bail.
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