A Grade One Magistrate’s Court at Mwanga II has directed nine people to defend themselves against charges of trespassing and falsely accusing Pastor Robert Kayanja of sodomy.
Presiding Magistrate Adams Byarugaba made this ruling after analyzing evidence from 13 prosecution witnesses, including audio recordings, phone data records, and medical examination forms.
Byarugaba held that the prosecution presented compelling evidence suggesting the youths, formerly employed at Lubaga Miracle Centre, devised a scheme to falsely implicate Pastor Kayanja in a sodomy scandal, with the ultimate goal of extracting financial gain.
The evidence revealed that the suspects had squandered their earnings and subsequently fabricated a plan to solicit additional funds from the pastor.
On September 17, 2021, the suspects purportedly stormed Lubaga Miracle Cathedral, uttered obscene remarks, and deliberately harassed Pastor Kayanja. Following their apprehension and detention, they provided statements containing false claims, alleging that the pastor had committed acts of sodomy against them. Nevertheless, subsequent medical examinations disclosed that they had preserved hymens, thereby disproving their assertions
The court dismissed the argument presented by the suspects’ lawyers, which claimed that there was insufficient evidence to prove a shared intent to harass Pastor Kayanja. Instead, the court sided with the chief prosecutor, concluding that the circumstances of the case suggested a collaborative effort to disturb the pastor.
The nine suspects, three of whom are still on remand, are expected to return to court on January 24, 2025, for mention of their case. They have not yet indicated whether they will provide sworn or unsworn evidence or remain silent.
