By Our Reporters
When he invited the President to speak to a mammoth crowd of NRM-leaning youth leaders he gathered at Namboole stadium in May 2015, Ps Robert Kayanja didn’t know what awaited him in the long term. The flamboyant Rubaga Miracle Center Pastor says on 29th May 2018, the President drove to Namboole and delivered a lecture in which he sought to impact the youths’ attitude towards self-employment and job creation. Kayanja, a big name Pentecostal Pastor, confirms that not less than 100,000 youth leaders thronged Namboole that day to listen to the President and other inspirational speakers. Many believed this initiative would rival Robert Kabushenga’s Pakasa seminars. The Pastor further confirms that the 100,000 leaders at Namboole represented poor unemployed youths from all districts of Uganda. He adds that the President in his address that day directed Gender Ministry PS Pius Bigirimana to find time and sit with a delegation from his Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral ministries to work out a formula and ways in which this Kayanja group would benefit from the hundreds of billions availed under the Youth Livelihood Program (YLP). Kayanja admits working with TV personality and city model Canary Mugume to found the anti-poverty pressure group called “Version 86 Youth for National Transformation” which the President consciously launched that day. In one of his correspondences on this matter, Kayanja explains that the idea was to provide the young people “with mentorship, enablement for job creation activities [whatever that means] and possible sponsorship for their income generating activities.”
PERFECT TIMING;
The timing of the group is indicative of many things not least of which is the fact the flamboyant Pastor is shrewd and knows when to cash in. And here is why: the timing coincided with the politically very desperate times President Museveni found himself facing at that time. John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, his defacto number 2 for many decades, had fallen out with him and launched his presidential bid for 2016. He accused Museveni of “overstaying in power, nursing a tired nation, failing on job creation and clearly failing to turn Uganda into a 21st century nation state.” His message and the momentum he created in especially the media space was initially considered very inspiring to many young people that had hitherto been loyal supporters of President Museveni. Led by Adam Luzindana, the economically destitute young men and women of the NRM coalesced around what they called the “NRM POOR YOUTH MOVEMENT” and desire for decent employment was one of their key grievances. Then powerful IGP Gen Kayihura came in with his crime preventers’ outfit under which he mobilized many young people but it still didn’t kill off the Mbabazi momentum at least going by the media visibility the poor youth group enjoyed. Different people, including Odrek Rwabwogo, tried different approaches to counter the JPAM group and Kayanja, widely considered by State House to be very credible and vastly networked, came up with his “Version 86 [V86],” which Mr. Yoweri Museveni cheerfully embraced. The President’s enthusiasm towards this group was clearly on display in the way he addressed the young people at Namboole. Kayanja maintains the number exceeded 100,000 in attendance that day. Being one that is greatly revered by the President’s wife and daughters, the Namboole event increased Kayanja’s political relevancy in the Museveni household.
BAGGING SHS5BN;
Ironically even when there was a commitment by the President to have Bigirimana fund the group members’ ideas turning them into economically viable enterprises, Kayanja went ahead writing letters soliciting for funding for the group members’ activities. Renowned for his fascination with material things, Ps Kayanja didn’t stop at that. He organized the young people into groups of 10 members each and set up a liaison desk at his Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral. The young people were taken through seminars on job creation and successful entrepreneurship whereafter they were asked to register their groups to officially become members of V86. To become fully registered, each group was asked to pay Shs500,000 which made them members. According to big name city human rights lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, whom the now much tormented young people have since instructed to sue Kayanja, the RMC boss collected not less than Shs5bn from the different groups each paying Shs0.5m as sternly required by Kayanja himself. The idea was that this money would be consolidated into a pool out of which members would be lent inexpensive capital to start their own business enterprises. In his one page notice to Kayanja, Rwakafuzi, who informed this news website he has been instructed to recover the money, requires that the Pastor quickly explains why he didn’t deliver his promises yet he got the money from thousands of these poverty-stricken youths. In case he has no explanation or accountability, Rwakafuzi who is famous for representing such poor litigant groups advises Kayanja to minimize damage to his good name by quickly refunding the Shs5bn or else prepare to meet his accusers in Court. It’s unlikely the Pastor, who has lately not being doing very financially having started many unsuccessful media projects, will be able to readily part with Shs5bn as demanded by Rwakafuzi. The prominent city lawyer revealed to this news website that Kayanja’s victims came to his office and narrated their ordeal while seeking his legal services since he has lately distinguished himself as the poor man’s lawyer. Rwakafuzi was approached by David Katokabo, Yosia Mugajju and Owen Agaba who represented the rest of the victims. The young people now regret that all the trust they had in Kayanja is now gone because of the very painful ordeal they have endured since May 2015 when their money was first taken them. Besides being a poor man’s lawyer, the very down to earth Rwakafuzi also represents Dr. Kizza Besigye in many court cases. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
