By Aggrey Baba
Labib Khalifa, one of nine youths on trial for allegedly defaming city pastor Robert Kayanja, on Friday gave detailed unsworn testimony before Mwanga II Magistrate’s Court, describing how his relationship with the pastor began and how it later turned into a financial dispute.
Appearing before Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba, Khalifa (now 24) told court that he had been in prison for four years over the charges he and eight others face.
These include conspiracy to defeat justice, criminal trespass at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral, and giving false information to police.
Khalifa had initially indicated that he would give a sworn testimony, but when called to the booth, he changed his mind and declined to take an oath. As a result, the court and prosecution were unable to cross-examine him or verify the accuracy of his statements, which limits their weight in court proceedings.
In his testimony, Khalifa said that while on school holiday in 2017, he met a man named Joshua outside Capital Shoppers supermarket in Bugolobi, who reportedly invited him to participate in youth activities at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral. Khalifa said he accepted the invitation and began attending regularly.
After several visits, Khalifa said he was introduced to Pastor Robert Kayanja. He told court that the pastor started giving him gifts, including cash in both Ugandan shillings and U.S dollars. According to him, the gifts continued for some time.
He further claimed that one evening, after a night service, he was invited to Pastor Kayanja’s office. There, Khalifa said he was asked to switch off his phone and remove his shirt. He alleged that the pastor then showed him adult-related videos and caressed him, after which he was sodomize, despite his resistance.
He also told court of an incident where pastor Kayanja and a white man ( whose names Khalifa) never disclosed) who had visited tje church on a missionary basis, one day took him to pastor’s office, sodomized him, and later gave him U.S.D 2000, while Kayanja gave him ugx 5 million.
He went on to tell court that the relationship deteriorated when the pastor allegedly stopped giving him money, despite endless promisses. He claimed that during their meetings, the pastor would pay him up to ugx 5 million each time. In 2019, Khalifa said he demanded ugx 340 million from the pastor as payment for what he described as his work in providing security, labour on Kayanja’s farm in Kiryandongo, as well as the money he had promised to give him in exchange to his acceptance of engaging in evil acts (Sodomy).
However, Khalifa told the court that the amount was later reduced to ugx 162 million after factoring in deductions for rent and meals he had received over a period of 40 months.
The trial is being held under restricted media access after the High Court upheld an earlier decision by Magistrate Byarugaba to ban live coverage. Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya informed the court that the decision had been made following concerns that some bloggers were misrepresenting the proceedings to the public.
Magistrate Byarugaba reiterated that the charges before the court were serious and called for the judicial process to proceed fairly and in line with due process.
The matter was adjourned to August 28, with further hearings scheduled in September 2025. Khalifa is the fourth witness to present a defense in the case, while five more are expected to testify. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
