Two men facing charges of conspiring to falsely accuse renowned Ugandan pastor Robert Kayanja of sodomy have denied any wrongdoing, asserting in court that they were wrongly implicated and have no connection to the allegations.
The accused, Jamilu Mwanda, a 36-year-old community leader from Kisenyi, and Aggrey Kanene, a 54-year-old businessman from Nansana, appeared before a Kampala court on Monday as part of an ongoing defamation case involving nine individuals.
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Mwanda testified that his arrest in September 2021 stemmed from a separate car engine theft investigation. While detained at Old Kampala Police Station, he said he met other suspects who alleged they had been mistreated after seeking compensation from Pastor Kayanja for alleged sexual abuse at Rubaga Miracle Centre. He claimed that his only involvement was attempting to help them as a community leader, and he was shocked when his name appeared among the accused.
He denied participating in any meetings or speaking to the media about the claims, refuting testimony from prosecution witnesses who alleged otherwise. Mwanda tried to submit his bail form to prove he was still in custody on the date he was allegedly seen in public, but the court declined to admit the document due to procedural issues.
Kanene, who also gave an unsworn statement, said he was surprised when police associated him with the case. He denied impersonating a lawyer or having any interactions with the accusers. Refuting claims made by a police officer, Kanene insisted he had never represented or communicated with the alleged victims.
Both men maintained their innocence and opted not to undergo cross-examination.
The state contends that the two, along with seven others, conspired to fabricate sodomy allegations against Pastor Kayanja, prompting an unnecessary police investigation and misusing public resources.
The trial continues on Tuesday with testimonies from the remaining accused.
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