The long-running legal battle over sodomy allegations against Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral took a dramatic turn as one of the accused men, Martins Kagolo, offered an emotional testimony in court on Monday.
Appearing before Principal Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba, Kagolo—who is among the nine men charged with fabricating sodomy claims against Pastor Kayanja—broke down in tears as he recounted his alleged experience with the pastor.
In unsworn testimony, which exempted him from cross-examination, Kagolo claimed that he had been bribed and later sexually abused by Kayanja and his aide, only identified as Makyati.
According to Kagolo, the abuse began after he joined the church’s football activities, which led to his recruitment into Kayanja’s security detail.
He said that Kayanja arranged for his training at Kabalye Police Training School in Masindi and later made him part of his private security team.
“When I met Kayanja for the second time in his office at night, he gave me Shs3 million and $200 from his Bible after sodomising me,” Kagolo alleged, further claiming that Makyati also assaulted him in similar fashion.
Kagolo’s testimony marks a pivotal moment in a high-profile case that began when nine men were accused of giving false information to the police, claiming they had been sexually abused by the prominent Pentecostal pastor.
The accused are facing several charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy to commit a felony, criminal trespass, and giving false information.
The prosecution claims that the nine accused—Reagan Ssentongo, Peter Serugo, Khalifa Labeeb, Aggrey Kanene, Israel Wasswa, Jamil Mwandha, Alex Wakamala, Martins Kagolo, and Moses Tumwine (currently on the run)—conspired to tarnish Kayanja’s image.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Tumwine’s sureties for failing to present him in court.
Kagolo also told court that the conflict escalated when he and his colleagues went to the Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral to demand unpaid salaries, at which point Pastor Kayanja allegedly called police to have them arrested for trespassing.
Prosecution says the false claims were presented to Detective Inspector of Police Cotilda Nandutu at Kawempe Police Station.
Thirteen witnesses have testified so far, including Pastor Kayanja himself, who insisted the accusations were part of a coordinated campaign by rival pastors to destroy his reputation.
The case has been adjourned to Friday for further defence hearings. If convicted, the accused face penalties ranging from one to seven years in prison, depending on the charge.
