| Robert Kayanja | |
|---|---|
| Born | Masooli, Gayaza |
| Occupation | Pastor, Evangelist, Author, Speaker |
| Spouse | Jessica Kayanja (m. 1992) |
| Children | Two daughters, one son |
| Parents | Rev John & Ruth Walakira |
Robert Kayanja is the founder and Senior Pastor of the Miracle Centre Cathedral, a megachurch in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. He is sometimes cited as one of the most powerful people in the country.[1]
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He was born in Masooli, Gayaza an impoverished village in central Uganda. He was converted at the age of 17 and launched into ministry at the age of 22.
Kayanja started the Miracle Centre as a papyrus reed structure, together with a few other young ministers having a 'congregation' of just one. Today it is among the region's largest church buildings, accommodating over 10,000 people. He is also overseer of the Miracle Bible College, the Never Again Children's project and the Kapeeka orphanage. He is the Director of Miracle Television and a frequent speaker on Daystar Television Network.[2] The church has also founded over 1,000 Miracle Centre Churches across the country.[3]
He encourages his congregation to achieve wealth and serve their personal goals.[4] He has travelled to over 50 other countries to preach. His message also reaches people in other countries by books, magazines, newsletters and e-letters.
On December 31, 2005, Kayanja prophesied that one of the presidential election candidates would die.[5] MPs expressed concern,[6] but the prophecy was not fulfilled.
In 2006 he was criticised for amassing wealth and building a palace at Gaba, a suburb of Kampala on the shore of Lake Victoria. Kayanja told critics to mind their own business, saying that the grand house was a marriage gift to his wife.[7]
In 2009, a scandal erupted when Kayanja was accused of sexually abusing two teenage male church members.[1] Other pastors had assisted the teenagers in filing their complaints, which were later withdrawn. Kayanja's supporters accused rivals of seeking to damage his reputation ahead of a visit by American preacher Benny Hinn to the Miracle Centre Cathedral.[1] The police later cleared Kayanja of sodomy.[8] They also cleared his accusers of charges of conspiracy to damage his reputation.[9] In the lifetime of ministry he has encountered criticism/controversy in his trade as well as in personal life. In late 2000 he was associated with smuggling and dealing in wine business and evading taxes an unbecoming habit for a christian ambassador. Government organs (the Uganda Police and Uganda Revenue Authority)working hand-in-hand investigated the matter which was found to be false and contrary to what media had published. Smugglers only used (the then site of) his now finished home but were eventually apprehended and convicted.
Shortly after, a group of city Pastors ganged up against Pastor Robert Kayanja with conspiracy to defame, injure and tarnish all that he stands for; family, ministry and personality. Pastors Michael Kyazze, Solomon Male, Bob Kayiira and Martin Ssempa levied sodomy allegations against Pastor Robert Kayanja; that he had sodomised a number of young men in his ministry. With the involvement of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)law suits were filled and both complainant and defendant summoned to court. Unlike some print media circulation, police has never exonerated the "city pastors'" of criminal offenses committed against pastor Robert Kayanja. On the contrary they were brought to book to answer a series of criminal charges which they still battle in court.
Their allegations have since been found wanting having been validated by the various appropriate and qualified authorities in all respective specialties relating to the case. Medical personnel including the police surgeon verified and cleared Pastor Robert Kayanja of any sodomy allegations against the said young men.The plot engineered by the group, conniving with hoodwinked teenagers as witnesses assisting them in filling complaints(who have since retracted their earlier "doctored" statements)is being frustrated each day during court proceedings. Upon the recent (15/12/2011) ruling, Grade One Magistrate John Patrick Wekesa;“Investigations yielded contrary results but the accused persons are hereby put on defence. However you have three options; you are free to make sworn statements but you be warned that if you do so, you will be cross-examined, [secondly you can make unsworn statements and finally you could choose neither and court will make a decision]...” He ruled after the state closed its case with 21 witnesses having testified in the controversial case whose trial started in January.
As a champion and crusader of a holistic living in light of belief and faith, Pastor Robert Kayanja rallies his audience to live better, prosperous, healthy and wealthy against which there is no law. For this he has been confronted with attack labeling him a mischievous preacher and one derailing his followers. To this he has always rhetorically given everyone (who believes in the Holy Bible)a thought on which to reflect and ponder; "Is the Bible true or false, and is God a lair?"
Kayanja resides in Kampala with his wife Jessica, their son Robert and twin daughters Kirstein and Christiana. Christiana survived brain cancer in 2004.[10] Pastor Kayanja is the younger brother of the current Anglican Archbishop of York, John Sentamu,[4] and of David Makumbi, a bishop in a Ugandan church.[11]