The defence hearing in a case involving nine people accused of conspiring to defame Pastor Robert Kayanja and trespassing at his Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral continued before the Mwanga II Magistrates Court, as the seventh accused, 23-year-old Peter Serugo, took the stand.
Serugo, who is serving a sentence for aggravated robbery in Luzira Prison, informed court that he would not take an oath despite indicating earlier in February that he would give a sworn testimony in defence.
“He had previously recorded intention to testify under oath on February 25, 2025, and the record should reflect that he has willingly changed his mind,” Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya told court.
Serugo becomes the fifth accused person to change from sworn to unsworn testimony, a move attributed to fears of intense cross-examination that would test the truthfulness of their accounts.
He faces charges of conspiracy to defeat justice, conspiracy to commit a felony, criminal trespass and giving false information to police.
While narrating his story, Serugo said he was living in Lungujja in 2017 when he saw Pastor Kayanja on television distributing school bursaries and encouraging youths who had dropped out to join church programs.
He told court that he later went to Rubaga Miracle Centre with his cousin and was introduced to the pastor’s night fellowship services through a friend, Joel Karungi. He further alleged that Pastor Kayanja summoned him to his office, hugged and touched him inappropriately after promising him money and foreign travel.
However, prosecution produced video clips during the trial showing Serugo and his co-accused confessing that they were members of a notorious street gang known as Kifeesi who had hoped to reform their lives.
Prosecution insists that Serugo and the others being driven by money motives, during the Covid-19 lock down got in touch with another city pastor who funds them to fabricate sodomy allegations with the intention to tarnish Pastor Kayanja’s name and ministry.
The accused however deny the allegations and maintain they were sexually violated although medical reports from Mulago and Nsambya police Doctors indicate their annal/ spincheter muscles are intact.
During the proceedings , prosecution asked court to compel the defence to clearly state how many more witnesses they plan to present in order to ensure proper trial preparation.
Trial Grade one magistrate Adams Byarugaba has adjourned the hearing to November 6, when the last defence witness, Reagan Ssentongo, is expected to testify.