CID officers dropped from sodomy inquiry

Andrew Bagala

Kampala: Two senior detectives have been dropped from the investigations into sodomy allegations against Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre.

Weeks after President Museveni criticised the Criminal Investigations Directorate’s handling of the inquiry, in which seven people are accusing Pastor Kayanja, the police has assigned, Ms Grace Akullo, the head of the narcotics unit, to take over the case, replacing Mr Venacio Tumuhimbise and Mr Amos Munyeneza.

One of the alleged victims, Mr Samson Mukisa had accused Mr Munyeneza of forcing him to retract a statement.

Pastor Kayanja was early this year accused by six victims - Mukisa, James Ntwatwa, Ronny Mutebi, David Mukalazi, Akansiime and Robinson Matovu of sodomising them while they served in his church.

GRILLED: Pastor Kyazze (L) at Central Police Station in Kampala on Tuesday. PHOTO BY YUSUF MUZIRANSA

However CID chief Edward Ochom later cleared Pastor Kayanja and instead chose to investigate the alleged victims and pastors Michael Kyazze, Martin Ssempa, Solomon Male, Annet Kyomuhendo and Bob Kayiira accusing them of setting up Pastor Kayanja.

President Museveni’s intervention, after the pastors criticised the Police conduct, forced the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, to convene a meeting of the warring parties in which the CID was directed to conduct the inquiry in a more professional manner.

Pastor Kyazze was on Tuesday interrogated for seven hours at the Central Police Station. The Police also summoned another pastor, Felix Ssemujju, who allegedly received the victims at Omega Healing Centre in Namasuba, to appear at CPS today.

But Pastor Kyazze said he does not believe in the Police inquiry. He said an independent commission should be established to investigate sodomy in the country.

“We shall not stop to talk for the victims of abuse. The issue is not Kyazze or Ssempa or Male. The issue is about the victims of sodomy,” he said.
Pastor Kyazze added: “I told the detective what I know about the sodomy victims and told them that nothing will prevent us from fighting homosexuality.”