The Mengo Magistrate Court has adjourned the sodomy case against renowned pastor Robert Kayanja to November 8, 2024, as the legal battle over serious allegations continues to unfold.
Kayanja, the founder of Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral, is defending himself against claims made by nine former congregants, accusing him of sodomizing them.
In his latest court appearance, Pastor Kayanja addressed the accusations, expressing deep pain and shock over what he described as a continuation of false claims aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The pastor told the court that the allegations were part of a broader agenda orchestrated by those seeking to bring him down, including fellow pastors.
The nine accusers, once members of a notorious gang called “Kiface,” joined Kayanja’s church during the famous 77 Days of Glory (DOGs) revival in 2017.
According to Kayanja, the church welcomed them as they sought spiritual transformation.
Later, the group sought to join the church’s security team and underwent training at Kabalye.
Upon completing their course, they were deployed between the church and a farm in Kiryandongo, with wages partially withheld to support their transition to independent adulthood.
However, Pastor Kayanja testified that things took a dark turn when the group engaged in theft, assault, and robbery.
Disputes arose when the church began paying their withheld wages in installments.
Tensions boiled over during the 2021 COVID-19 lock down when the group allegedly stormed the church, attacking members at the gate. Shortly afterward, they began circulating videos, accusing Pastor Kayanja of sodomizing them and demanding "sodomy money."
In court, Pastor Kayanja reflected on previous incidents where similar accusations were levied against him. Notably, in 2010, fellow pastors Solomon Male, Michael Kyazze, and Martin Ssempa were convicted of making false accusations of sodomy against him and were sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
The pastor argued that the court's failure to impose harsher punishments on his accusers in that case has emboldened others to make defamatory claims.
He stressed the need for strong legal deterrents against false accusations, arguing that it would discourage others from attempting to ruin lives and reputations with baseless claims.
"I am not a homosexual, and I have never engaged in the actions I am being accused of," Kayanja told the court, adding that his integrity as a pastor is being unfairly targeted.
The current sodomy case has drawn significant public interest, given Kayanja's prominence in Uganda's religious community.
Despite repeated accusations over the years, Kayanja has maintained his innocence and has not been found guilty in previous cases.
The court has now set November 8 as the date to reconvene, while the prosecution has officially closed its case.
As Pastor Kayanja continues to defend himself, the broader issue of defamation in Uganda’s legal system remains a topic of debate.
Whether the court will heed Pastor Kayanja’s call for harsher penalties for false accusers remains to be seen. However, the pastor remains resolute in his quest for justice, determined to clear his name once again.
For more updates on this case and other related stories, stay tuned to our website.
