KAMPALA, UGANDA — The Mwanga II Magistrates Court has issued an arrest warrant for Moses Tumwine, one of nine individuals accused of providing false information to the police, alleging that Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre Church committed sodomy.
The other defendants in the case are; Peter Serugo, Reagan Ssentongo, Khalifa Labeeb, Alex Wakamala, Martins Kagolo, Israel Wasswa, Jamil Mwanda, and Aggrey Kinene.
Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One Adams Byarugaba issued the warrant for Tumwine’s arrest on Friday, directing any law enforcement officer to apprehend him immediately and present him in court at the next hearing scheduled for May 5th, 2025.
The same court has also issued criminal summons to Tumwine’s sureties, requiring them to appear and explain why they should not be compelled to forfeit the bail bond they agreed to pay should Tumwine fail to attend his trial.
The arrest warrant was issued following a request from the Prosecution’s Chief State Attorney, Jonathan Muwaganya, who informed the court that Tumwine has been absent for three consecutive hearings without providing a valid explanation.
Despite his absence, Tumwine has reportedly continued to instruct his legal representatives and engage new lawyers.
Prior to the commencement of court proceedings, the Magistrate inquired about Tumwine’s whereabouts from another defendant, Martin, who claimed not to know.
The Magistrate remarked, “Do you want to be like Simon Peter?” Martin responded that he had spoken with Tumwine the previous day and that Tumwine was aware of the court proceedings, citing family issues related to his pregnant wife. However, the Magistrate remained unconvinced, stating that pregnancy-related matters typically require medical documentation.
Another suspect informed the court that their last conversation with Tumwine revealed an arrogant and hostile demeanor. Magistrate Byarugaba then warned that if Tumwine, also known as Small Pin, failed to appear, his sureties would face imprisonment as a deterrent to others considering absconding from trial after being granted bail.
Lawyer Humphrey Tumwesigye, representing Tumwine, confirmed that efforts to reach his client had been unsuccessful.
Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya further informed the court that despite his absence, Tumwine had engaged new legal counsel, including Tusingwire Wesley and Ojambo.
Muwaganya requested an arrest warrant for both Tumwine and his sureties, arguing that they had failed to uphold their agreement with the court.
The prosecution noted that in 2024, the accused were found to have a case to answer and were instructed to begin their defense. However, there have since been five adjournments, allegedly due to delaying tactics employed by the defendants to avoid commencing their defense.
In response, Lawyer Humphrey Tumwesigye did not object to the arrest warrant for his client, Moses Tumwine. However, he opposed the issuance of warrants for the sureties, arguing that they had not been formally summoned to appear and provide an explanation to the court.
Tumwesigye argued that the prosecution’s request to proceed without Tumwine was premature, as the court had not yet ruled on the execution of an arrest warrant to justify proceeding in his absence. He contended that even if a warrant had not yet been issued, proceeding without Tumwine was not yet warranted.
The Magistrate emphasized that the court would not waste time and resources, stating that Tumwine’s actions suggested a deliberate absence despite his awareness of the proceedings.
The court cautioned that lawyers could not continue representing absent clients and deemed the issuance of an arrest warrant against Tumwine necessary.
During his testimony in October 2024, Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre Church told Magistrate Byarugaba that the nine individuals had falsely accused him of sodomy, alleging a conspiracy to frame him and linking one of the accused, Israel Wasswa, to Pastor Ssenyonga, a long-standing rival.
Pastor Kayanja expressed his frustration over the repeated false accusations, referencing previous cases in 2010 and 2013 where he was similarly accused. He noted that in the 2010 case, five pastors – Solomon Male, Michael Kyazze, Martin Sempa, Mukalazi, and Deborah Kyomuhendo – were convicted of falsely accusing him but received only 100 hours of community service.
Pastor Kayanja also cited the 2013 case involving Moses Muhanguzi and Ibrahim Nsubuga, who falsely accused him of sodomy and received lenient sentences for attempting to bribe a doctor to fabricate evidence of sodomy.
Pastor Kayanja declared, “Enough is enough,” and requested a deterrent sentence for his current accusers to prevent future blackmail.
The prosecution alleges that the accused individuals, along with others still at large, conspired in Kampala District around September 17th, 2021, to falsely accuse Pastor Kayanja of unnatural offenses. They face further charges of conspiracy to defeat Justice, committing a felony, criminal trespass, and providing false information to the police.
Specifically, it is alleged that Serugo, Ssentongo, Khalifa, Wakamala, and Kagolo, while serving as police officers, provided false information to police detective IP Cotilda Nandutu, claiming that Pastor Kayanja had committed unnatural acts with them, knowing this information to be false and intending to cause the police to expend time and resources on a baseless investigation.
