How Pastor Ssenyonga fleeced sh500m from American couple in ‘fake’ spiritual cleansing ritual

MUKONO, UGANDA: A born-again pastor in Mukono is being investigated by the Uganda police over an alleged scam of 500 million shillings fleeced from an American couple under the guise of spiritual cleansing.

The self-styled man of God identified as Pastor Denis Ssenyonga, the team leader at God Holy Ministry International in Mukono District is accused of convincing Bishop Hans Brandt Hvistendahl and his wife Ragnhild Hvistendahl that they were being haunted by demons, which could only be defeated through a sacrifice of Shs500m.

Bemused by the prophetic proclamations, Bishop Brandt excitedly withdrew Shs500m from a bank in Jinja City and handed it over to the pastor for the spiritual ritual to be effected.

Bishop Brandt claims that they got to know Pastor Ssenyonga through one Barbara Kansiime, a Ugandan, and her partner Borche Lliovski, a Macedonian, while they were on a pastoral visit in Macedonia.

“They convinced us to visit Uganda to help the orphans. They also told us that there was a prophet in Uganda who does miracles and also can prophesy about people,” said the American Bishop.

He added that on their arrival to Uganda in November 2022, they were welcomed by Ms Kansiime and Mr Borche who introduced them to Pastor Ssenyonga as a prophet.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire says the couple was shocked when the pastor revealed to them that “they were possessed by a blood curse and a death mark that would make their lives difficult and later cause death to them and the only way to survive was to cleanse themselves by paying a sacrifice of Shs500m.”

Gripped with fear and the scare of being in a foreign country for the first time, the couple willfully accepted and on March 1, 2023, paid Shs500m and handed it over to Pastor Ssenyonga.

Owoyesigyire says two weeks later, the same pastor reportedly told the couple who had flown out of the country that he had received another prophecy that they were not safe in Uganda and they should flee as soon as possible.

“Two weeks later, the pastor contacted them revealing another prophecy, this time it was indicating that the couple’s brother-in-law was also in trouble. It was then that Bishop Brandt detected that it could be a scam as the pastor pestered them for money,” Owoyesigyire explained.

When it was discovered that this could a scam to fleece money from the couple, Pastor Ssenyonga allegedly cut all contacts with the bishop. The agitated Bishop then sought help from his attorneys in Uganda and a criminal case was opened at Mukono Police Station.

According to Mr Owoyesigyire, Pastor Ssenyonga has since been arrested on offences of obtaining money and goods by false pretence and was released on police bond, but the detectives seized the property, including two vehicles that the couple had left in the hands of Pastor Ssenyonga.

“The suspect was arrested and denied obtaining money by false pretence. He said he only bought property from Bishop Brandt and the Bishop paid as agreed. The suspect was released on bond as investigations continue,” Mr Owoyesigyire said on Sunday afternoon.

Owoyesigyire says Pastor Ssenyonga first denied knowing the couple but conceded later.

Pastor Ssenyonga who first denied having scammed the couple of their money later agreed to know them and presented a sales agreement in which he claimed Bishop Brabdt sold him the motor vehicles at Shs134m and household property at Shs132m.

“The victim conceals about the sale, but he said he sold them cheaply to him,” Mr Owoyesigyire said, adding that they are actively searching for the pastor’s two alleged accomplices; Kansiime and Borche to record their statement.