Crowds jam Namboole for Benny Hinn
The New Vision Friday, 18th May, 2007
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/565901
By Joyce Namutebi and Flavia Nakagwa
THOUSANDS of excited believers on Friday converged at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in Kampala for Pastor Benny Hinn’s crusade, his first in Uganda. The international evangelist was scheduled to jet in at around 5:00pm for the ‘Holy Spirit Miracle Crusade’.
He was invited by the First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni. People started flocking to Namboole as early as 7:00am to avoid being caught up in the traffic jam on Jinja Road and also to get strategic positions inside the stadium. Some brought their sick to receive healing.
Those who travelled from as far as Gulu and Arua in the north and Mbarara district in western Uganda, arrived at Namboole by midday.
The two-day event has also attracted people from neighbouring countries including Kenya and Rwanda.
“I could not miss this chance because this is the time I think my child will get her healing,” Joyce Wangari from Nairobi said, as she and her child struggled to get into the stadium.
The police have deployed over 200 officers in and outside Namboole, according to the spokesperson, Asan Kasingye.
He said they would set up a coordination centre to handle security matters.
Kasingye noted that the Police would work hand-in-hand with other service providers such as the fire fighters, St. John’s Ambulance and Mulago Hospital.
He advised people to go to Namboole with only what is necessary and to be very careful about the people seated next to them.
Some people have used the event to make money by selling rolled chapati popularly known as ‘rolex’, drinks and airtime.
A 5,000-member choir of singers from various churches of born-again Christians ministered to the crowd and several pastors from their churches were involved in the preparations.
Pastor Aaron Mutebi of Entebbe Miracle Centre said he was very excited by Benny Hinn’s coming.
“I’m always excited when great men, whom God is using, visit the nation,” he said.
“Christians should believe in God and his prophets.” Sources on the organising committee estimate that the two-day visit will cost over $1.5m (sh2.5b) including flight costs and logistics, reports Sebidde Kiryowa.
It is estimated that Benny Hinn is flying in with television equipment from the USA worth $4.8m but hired at about $250,000.
To illuminate the place enough for the television cameras, the same lighting system that was used on the set of the 2004 Oscar winning Hollywood film The Constant Gardener, which was shot in Nairobi’s Kibero slum, will be brought in.
According to sources, the lighting equipment cost about $500,000. Four separate sound systems will be used at Namboole, one of which will come from Nairobi at $500,000 while the rest will be hired from Uganda.
Ange Noir proprietor Charlie Lubega’s sound system has been hired at $150,000 while two others have been hired at $50,000 each.
