A youth accused of making sodomy allegations against Pastor Robert Kayanja of Lubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral told court that he made the allegations after being advised by his colleagues, but maintained that his main concern was to be paid his salary arrears after working as a security manager at Kayanja’s Kiryandongo farm.
Ssentongo Reagan, who is accused of making the allegations against Pastor Kayanja made the admission while being cross-examined by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya.
Ssentongo said he never wanted to fabricate allegations against Pastor Kayanja, but wanted the pastor to pay him money he was demanding from him after working at his farm for some time without pay.
The prosecution has referred to several messages sent by Ssentongo to Pastor Kayanja between May and July 2021, in which he repeatedly asked for his salary arrears.
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In one message dated May 5, 2021, Ssentongo asked Kayanja to help him with part of his salary so that he could start something in the village because life was hard for him.
However, when Muwaganya asked him whether he was demanding salary arrears or money connected to the sodomy allegations, Ssentongo maintained that he was demanding his salary for the work done and would not stop until he was paid.
The prosecution presented another message in which Ssentongo reminded Kayanja of his promise to pay him.
Asked by Muwaganya to read Pastor Kayanja’s response to his repeated demands, Ssentongo said Kayanja had responded that he had quit his job and that he was looking for his money, which he did not have at the time.
Ssentongo also confirmed that by May 2021, he had left his employment as a security manager at Pastor Kayanja’s farm.
Prosecution also referred to messages in which Ssentongo complained about the difficulties of village life and asked Pastor Kayanja to help pay him his salary, saying he was out of money and had nothing to eat even for breakfast.
Prosecution further referred to another message in which Ssentongo apologised to pastor Kayanja, saying he did not want to hurt him and that he had acted on the advice of other people.
Muwaganya put it to Ssentongo that after his efforts to obtain money from pastor Kayanja failed, he resorted to other means, including involving bloggers, to exert pressure on the pastor.
“When your efforts to get the money from Pastor Kayanja failed, you resorted to other means, including involving bloggers, to put pressure on him,” Muwaganya told Ssentongo.
Prosecution highlighted to court that Ssentongo engaged bloggers Fred Kajubi Lumbuye and Ssebunya Rogers alias SB4, as part of a smear campaign against Kayanja.
Muwaganya then presented evidence showing that Ssentongo and his colleagues communicated with people described as historical enemies of Pastor Kayanja.
Prosecution presented a message in which Ssentongo allegedly stated that the “next stop over is Makerere Kavule.”
Muwaganya interpreted the message to mean that Ssentongo was referring to a stop at Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga’s church.
Court was also shown screenshots of alleged communication between Kisakye Collins; a former colleague of Ssentongo and Pastors; Solomon Male and David Kiganda, who are believed to be behind the plot to tarnish Pastor Kayanja’s name.
Muwaganya put it to Ssentongo that his objective was to forcefully get money from Pastor Kayanja.
“Your objective was to force Pastor Kayanja to pay you,” Muwaganya said.
The prosecutor further asked Ssentongo whether his position was that if the money was not paid, he would cause more chaos.
Ssentongo answered in the affirmative.
“Isn’t it your position that if the money was not paid, you would cause chaos?” Muwaganya asked.
Court heard that Ssentongo’s outstanding balance as of May 2021 was Sh4m, which he confirmed.
The hearing was adjourned to 6th August, 2026 after the defense team requested for more time to re-examine Ssentongo and to call another witness.
