Wednesday 1 August 2012

New twist in Pastor Kayanja case: Two of the youth alleged to have been sodomised claimed instead that they had been beaten up by people associated with Kayanja’s accusers.



FIRST READ:

Pastor Kayanja Sodomy case: Magistrate faces probe

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2011/12/pastor-kayanja-sodomy-case-magistrate.html

 

Pastor Robert Kayanja's “Image” and the Arrest of Pastor Solomon Male

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/12/astor-robert-kayanjas-image-and-arrest.html

 

New twist in Pastor Kayanja case


Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:24

Written by EDRIS KIGGUNDU & SIRAJE LUBWAMA

The case in which Pastor Robert Kayanja is accusing six people, including fellow pastors, of tarnishing his name after they levelled allegations of sodomy against him, took an interestingly twist this week when two of the youth alleged to have been sodomised claimed instead that they had been beaten up by people associated with Kayanja’s accusers.

John Mutumba and Robinson Matovu registered a case with the Special Investigations Unit, saying they had been attacked by unknown people while moving in an undisclosed place in Kampala. The case is registered under file no. SIUGEF/98/2012. Police declined to comment on the development, while efforts to speak to Kayanja were futile. But Pastor Martin Sempa, one of the defendants in the case, laughed off the allegations.

“You ask yourself; how can these boys who are enjoying witness protection from the police be beaten by us? There is an attempt to cover up for something,” Ssempa told The Observer yesterday.

He added that the two young men had recently sent a DVD to the defendants, asking for forgiveness “for turning against them”. Ssempa said his group had reported this to the police. Last month, grade one magistrate Julius Borore halted the trial after Elizabeth Kabanda, the registrar, criminal division of the High Court in Kampala, asked that the case file be forwarded for scrutiny.

This followed a petition by the defendants — pastors Sempa, Solomon Male, Micheal Kyazze and Robert Kayiira, and their co-accused, businesswoman Anita Deborah Kyomuhendo and musician David Mukalazi — that the 22 prosecution witnesses be reexamined. The trial resumes tomorrow.

Pastor Kayanja court case temporarily halted
http://www.newvision.co.ug/article/fullstory.aspx?story_id=631785&catid=1&mid=53
Publish Date: Jun 09, 2012
By Andante Okanya 
Buganda Road Court in Kampala has temporarily halted the trial of the six people including four pastors, accused of plotting to tarnish the reputation of Pastor Robert Kayanja.

On Thursday, Grade one magistrate Julius Borore, halted the trial after the registrar criminal division of the High Court in Kampala Elizabeth Kabanda, asked that the case file be forwarded for scrutiny.

The accused petitioned the High Court in Kampala, stating dissatisfaction with Borore's decision to reject their application to recall the 22 prosecution witnesses who testified against the accused.

"In light of the letter dated June 6, 2012, addressed to me by the registrar criminal division of the High Court in Kampala, and the application to revise my decision, the file is hereby forwarded to the court," Borore said.

Accordingly, the magistrate adjourned to July 11.The development means that the accused will delay the start of their defence,which had been scheduled to start yesterday.

Prior, defence lawyers Paul Rutisya,Kato Sekabanja,Isaac Walukagga, and Edward Akankwasa, had requested court to temporarily halt proceedings, pending the decision of the High Court.

Prosecution led by Stephen Asaba, alleges that in 2008 and 2009 at various places within Kampala district, the accused "conspired to cause injury to Kayanja's personality and reputation" by claiming he sodomised boys at his church.

The accused are Pastors Solomon Male of Arising for Christ Ministries, Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church, plus Michael Kyazze and Robert Kayiira of Omega Healing Centre.

Also accused are businesswoman Dorothy Kyomuhendo, and local musician David Mukalazi. Kayanja heads the Rubaga Miracle Centre, and runs the global Robert Kayanja Ministries.

In his ruling of May 28, the magistrate declined to recall the 22 witnesses,  saying the case file was indicative of what transpired from the start of the trial.The defence had argued otherwise.

Citing Section 144 of the Magistrates Court Act, Rutisya in his submissions on May 28, stated that once a case is assigned to another magistrate, the defence team is empowered to apply to recall witnesses.The then trial magistrate Patrick Wekesa has since been transferred to Nakawa Court in line with the routine judicial movement of officers.