Pastor Luwagga
2008 has been a long year, never mind the fact that like many other years, it too has had 365 days. For some people, it has been marvellous, for others, quite the contrary. When it comes to the Pentecostal churches, I would say it has been eventful; their history dates a year back though, but we are going to revisit the issues.
City of the Lord Church
Does the name ring a bell? Probably not; well, it was that church owned by one Pastor Godfrey Luwagga. Built in a Kalerwe wetland, it collapsed during a storm and killed over 28 people, injuring about 97 others on March 8, 2006.
On the fateful day, Christians from different places in and around Kampala had gathered to conduct an anti-false prophet/teacher seminar, which some of them did not live to tell.
Their funeral was conducted at Nakivubo Stadium as the other followers of the church vehemently accused Pastor Kakande of The Synagogue Church of Nations in Mulago. They claimed he had sent evil spirits which were responsible for the collapse. There was a story about how he prophesied the demise of the same church on the fateful day.
However, some authorities claimed the church had been an illegal structure without an approved architectural plan. The pastor had apparently defied orders to stop construction claming clearance from higher authorities. He was later charged of erecting an illegal building but was released on bail. Fellow pastors vowed to rebuild the church.
Pastor William Muwanguzi
Popularly known as ‘Kiwedde’, this “man of God” redefined healing at his Holy Fire Church and Ministries located at Namulanda on Entebbe road. He made headlines in May this year.
It was alleged that in order to seek audience with this pastor over any problem, one had to have cash with them, the amount dependent on how serious the problem was. He was accused of bribing people to give false testimonies.
He was also accused of stealing a Land Cruiser from a car dealer; and one would wonder why a man who drove around in a personalised Shs600m Hummer marked Kiwedde would want a Shs24m Toyota Land Cruiser. The car belonged to Michael Sango, alias Dai, of the East African Discotheque in Nyendo, Masaka Town.
Muwanguzi is said to have sold the land on which his church stood before he attempted to vanish; unfortunately he was nabbed at Entebbe Airport by the police. It was therefore a case of “Kiwedde” (it’s finished) when the police finally caught up with him.
Pastor Simeon Kayiwa
This pastor of Namirembe Christian Fellowship Church was at one time described as “the father of us all,” by Bishop Grivas Musisi of Prayer Palace Kibuye. Having this title has however not saved him from controversy.
His problems seem to have come all the way from the 1980s, when he is said to have rivalled with another pastor over inheritance of powers from Obiri Yeboah, who is said to have fathered the Pentecostal Church in Uganda.
On April 23, 2003, he was accused of using witchcraft and defrauding his American and British sponsors of at least Shs100m. He was accused by American writer Rochelle Gibler of being proud of his ability to punish (by cursing) those who challenge his power, demanding pornographic movies, selling off donations, and demanding for a car when asked to pray for a horse in a £250,000 race. His defense was that many people, race regardless, were jealous of him and who knew to what extents they could go? He advised the press not to think much of the allegations.
Pastor Kojo Obiri Yeboah
In Kampala, you can be a star in just one night. So, until Kojo was impounded at the Entebbe International Airport with an electric gadget, Ugandans only knew of the original Yeboah, his father. Kojo belonged to We Are One with Christ Ministries. The machine was believed to be behind the “miraculous” falling of worshippers during prayer time. The gadget, which could be worn like a corset on the upper body or under the sole of a shoe, was said to generate up to 12 volts, enough current to shock to the ground dozens of people at a time.
According to its users’ manual, “once your body is charged, you are able to transfer this electricity to other objects that are grounded or to other people”.
It was later revealed that he was wanted in Ghana by the International Police (Interpol) on allegations of “jumping bail” in a financial fraud case. He had gone missing and surfaced after this case featured on the news.
Kojo was however not of the same opinion; according to him, the machine was his daughter’s birthday gift. And like many other pastors, he cited foul-play, accusing Pastor Kakande of being the brainchild behind his troubles.
Pastor Isaac Kiwewesi
He is the lead pastor of Kansanga Miracle Centre under the Miracle Centre Ministries. He shot to fame when he set about marrying 23-year old Sasha Barbra Mugabi in a lavish wedding at Namboole Stadium in 2007. He was criticised by many but well; there is nothing wrong with one spending big on the most important day of their lives.
What however sparked media frenzy is when he was accused by David Arinaitwe of Sodomy in the last quarter of this year. Arinaitwe, a member of his congregation, said the pastor used him for oral sex as well.
Kiwewesi denied the accusations and, coincidentally, Arinaitwe was arrested days later for car theft. The case of sodomy has since died out, as the pastor has been acquitted.
Pastor Irene Manjeri
She pastors Bethel Healing Ministries. She was known among the Pentecostals for having divine healing powers. It is even claimed that she went to heaven and Jesus handed her a verse - Mark 1:1-5.
This version of her was however shaken in September this year when she was accused by 15-year old Peace Muhindo of assault in October 2007. Muhindo was at the time admitted at Mulago Hospital where she has been since June 26, 2008.
The girl told the police that Manjeri instructed her guards to beat her up to cast demons out of her.
She added that after the beating, she was dumped at Butabika Mental Hospital on October 17, 2007, where she stayed for nine months. According to Muhindo, the pastor, who threatened to kill her, said she was a curse and bad omen to the orphanage where she was staying. At the hospital, the authorities had a different version. “When she was brought to me, I had no reason to doubt her sanity,” Mr Justus Twesigye, a senior social worker at Butabika Mental Hospital, said.
At Mulago, medical reports revealed that she was paralysed in her lower body. But like many other cases, this one raised an alarm, made a mark, and is now silent.
Pastor Jackson Senyonga
For sometime, he lived a quiet life and preached at his Chrisitian Life Church in Bwaise. Apart from organising the end of year prayer and miracle crusades, owning Top TV and Radio, and Rhino Radio in Lira, all he did was feed his flock with God’s word.
It was all good until the media and everyone got to know that while on a trip to the USA, Senyonga was accused of molesting a 13-year old on August 11, this year on a flight from Denver to Oakland. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (like in the movies). He pleaded not guilty and said he was merely uncomfortable with a neighbour who was snoring close by and tended to tilt towards the girl…
Pastor Augustine Yiga
He heads Revival Christian Church in Kawala and his church is now a popular destination. His is a healing that surpasses words, to the point that he was under attack in March this year from fellow pastors, who doubted his works and teachings. For a clear understanding, one has to know that his pseudo name is “Abizayo” to mean “he sends them back”; in particular, we are talking spirits and bad omens. In a country that believes in witchcraft, this man of God came to rescue and sends the evil back to whoever sent it to you so that they have a taste of their own medicine. They then continue suffering until they publicly come to say sorry. Now, isn’t this an eye for an eye?
Pastor Samuel Kakande
If there’s anyone that’s been connected to several evil or confusing deeds, it is this man from The Synagogue Church of Nations. When the City Of The Lord Church collapsed, he was blamed; when Pastor Kojo was nabbed at the airport with an electric machine, he accused the same man. His miracles have been questioned, as has his holy water. One time, Pastor Solomon Male accused of him of witchcraft. “As the couple’s co-pastor, I witnessed a lot of evil committed in the name of “Jesus of Prophet John Obiri Yeboah,” Male said at the time. The pastors (Kojo and Kakande) used the dead Yeboah’s spirit to perform miracles and to torment and destroy purported enemies,” Male stated.
“They wrote and issued paper talismans; used stinking stuff mixed with water to sprinkle on followers to destroy enemies; and abetted their followers in animal sacrifices and the use of traditionally biased witchcraft materials, all indicative of witchcraft powers. They had divination powers and were fond of cursing while invoking prophet Yeboah’s name.
I witnessed marriages and families being torn apart and healthy people manipulated into relationships with known Aids sufferers - sufferers whom Kakande claimed to have prayed for and healed in the name of “Jesus of Prophet Obiri Yeboah. The Faithful were influenced to give their wealth to the couple in the name of Jesus,” Male went on.
It is said that at his church, new members wear placards stating their problems and how long they have had them. Is this modesty, or humility, or rather baring it all to the world?
It is no wonder that late this November, Kakande was reported mad and admitted in Butabika Psychiatric Hospital by some media houses; he on the other hand claimed sanity and emphasised the fact that he was in Nairobi purchasing agricultural equipment. The pastor and his ministry have sure stood the test of time.
source.monitor.ug