Kampala, Uganda: Mwanga II Magistrate Court has issued a final ultimatum to six youth facing trial for allegedly defaming city preacher Pastor Robert Kayanja, warning that further delays in their defence hearing will force the court to compel them to represent themselves.
The warning was issued on Tuesday, July 08, by the Court’s Grade Magistrate Adams Byarugaba after a scheduled defence hearing was again stalled due to the reported illness of one of the accused’s defence lawyers.
The suspects face charges of criminal trespass and defamation, stemming from allegations of staging false evidence of unnatural offences against Pastor Kayanja at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral.
During the court session, lead state prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya strongly opposed the adjournment request, accusing defence lawyers Humphrey Tumwesigye, Robert Ojambo, and Bernard Mugenyi of deliberately stalling proceedings through inconsistent representation and calculated absenteeism.
“Throughout the trial, Counsel Humphrey represented A1-A3 alone while Mr. Ojambo and Mugenyi only acted for A7-A9. It was only on April 25th that they appeared as joint counsel. Since there are two law firms and three lawyers on record, the absence of one shouldn’t paralyze the hearing,” said Muwaganya.
The prosecution noted that the trial, which began in July 2023, has dragged on for two years, with some of the accused still on remand.
Magistrate Byarugaba, expressing frustration, warned that the court would no longer tolerate excuses tied to the illness of legal counsel or the absence of any accused persons.
“This is the last warning. Since December 2024, this matter has been delayed repeatedly by the defence. The next session is set for July 18, 2025, and if the accused doesn’t come prepared, they will be ordered to defend themselves,” he ruled.
The suspects are jointly accused of criminal conspiracy to fabricate evidence of sodomy against Pastor Kayanja in a case that has drawn significant public interest and legal scrutiny since it first emerged.
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