By Mulengera Reporters
The police forensic expert Enoch Kanene has told court that the phone belonging to Miracle Centre Church lead pastor Robert Kayanja received pornographic videos and images from Reagan Ssentongo, one of the complainants in the ongoing sodomy where Kayanja accuses 9 young men of defamation and other crimes.
Kanene, who was testifying before the Mwanga II Magistrate’s Court in Mengo, said he was assigned by defense lawyers from Ojambo & Ojambo Advocates to examine Ssentongo’s phone and establish whether there was any sodomy related communication between Kayanja and Ssentongo.
He told court that his analysis covered the period between October 22, 2020 and July 21, 2021, during which he found that Ssentongo and Kayanja were in constant communication through WhatsApp and SMS.
According to the expert, the contact saved as “Mzee” in Ssentongo’s phone was verified and found to be registered in the names of Robert Kayanja. Kanene further told court that the communication included exchanges in which Ssentongo raised concerns about a group of youths who were allegedly demanding money promised to th3m by Kayanja after sodomizing them, and threatening to go to the church to protest over what they claimed were unfulfilled promises.
In response, Kanene said, a message attributed to Kayanja advised that no one should go to the church at the time, citing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and indicated that arrangements would be made to send each of them money.
“Let them wait. No one should come to church. I will arrange and send them at least 300k each,” Kayanja wrote.
The court also heard that in subsequent messages, Ssentongo allegedly threatened to inform his father and release videos and audios he claimed to have if his demands were not met.
Kanene presented to court a video recovered from the phone, which contained a person holding a used piece of toilet paper which was stained with blood, and a toilet bawl full of blood. He said the footage didn’t show the sender’s face but was accompanied by messages indicating it was meant to show the condition of other youths (Adrian and Jonathan) who were reportedly unwell and in need of financial assistance.
He added that the digital records also contained repeated requests for money, with Ssentongo referencing earlier interactions and expectations.
” I also want to live a good life you. Give me the money you promised me when you were sodomizing me,” the message read.
The expert explained that his findings were based on a formal request from the defense team, which specifically asked him to extract and analyze any material related to the case from the phone.
His testimony follows earlier court proceedings in which the display of digital evidence was halted pending proper authentication by a forensic expert, as directed by Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
