Nine men accused of providing false information to police, alleging they were sodomized by Pastor Robert Kayanja, are set to begin their defense on February 26.
The accused include Peter Sserugo, Reagan Ssentongo, Moses Tumwine, Khalifah Labeeb, Alex Wakamala, Martin Kagolo, Israel Wasswa, Jamil Mwandha, and Aggrey Kanene.
Charges Against the Accused
The group faces four charges:
- Conspiracy to obstruct justice
- Conspiracy to commit a felony
- Criminal trespass
- Giving false information
If convicted, the charges carry significant penalties. Conspiracy to obstruct justice is punishable by up to five years in jail, while conspiracy to commit a felony can lead to seven years of imprisonment or a court-determined fine.
Giving false information carries a maximum sentence of two years, and criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, is punishable by up to one year in prison.
Court Ruling: A Case to Answer
Last year, Nateete/Rubaga Principal Magistrate Grade One Adams Byarugaba ruled that the accused must answer to all four charges.
However, the magistrate noted, based on evidence provided by Adrian Ssebaale, that three of the accused—Israel Wasswa, Jamil Mwandha, and Aggrey Kanene—were not originally part of the group that orchestrated the plot to accuse Pastor Kayanja falsely.
Legal Representation and Defense Plans
During a court session on Friday, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya stated that the prosecution was ready to proceed.
Lawyer Robert Ojambo, representing Wasswa, Mwandha, and Kanene, informed the court that his clients intend to provide sworn testimony.
However, Lawyer Humphrey Tumwesigye, representing the other six accused men, was absent from the session.
As a result, those clients did not specify how they would present their testimony.
One of the accused, Reagan Ssentongo, asked the court to release his phone, currently in court custody, to retrieve evidence for his defense. The magistrate granted the request, and the phone will be made available on February 26.
Testimonies and Accusations
Thirteen witnesses, including Pastor Kayanja, have testified in the case. In his testimony, Kayanja denied the allegations of sodomy, claiming they were part of a smear campaign orchestrated by some fellow pastors to tarnish his reputation.
Kayanja urged the court to impose strong deterrent sentences if the accused are found guilty. He emphasized the need for justice, not only for the accused in court but also for others involved in the conspiracy who remain at large.
“In all these cases, the guilty ones have not been punished under the law. When you see something occurring, it is because the punishment was not strong enough to deter crime. I pray this time, if the accused are found guilty, this court does not only stop at these in the dock but also those still at large because enough is enough,” Kayanja told the court.
Prosecution’s Allegations
According to the prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Muwaganya, the accused men provided Detective Inspector of Police Cotilda Nandutu with false information, alleging that Pastor Kayanja had sodomized them.
The prosecution claims they were aware the accusations were untrue.
Regarding the criminal trespass charge, the prosecution alleges that on September 17, 2021, some of the accused, along with others still at large, went to Rubaga Miracle Centre with the intent to insult and annoy Pastor Kayanja.
