Musaazi NAMITI

The recent public challenge by social commentator Frank Gashumba to Pastor Robert Kayanja to perform a miracle has reopened an uncomfortable question: how much scrutiny should religious leaders face for extraordinary claims? From miraculous HIV cures to failed prophecies, these three pastors have given their followers plenty to believe—and sceptics plenty to question.

1. Apostle Grace Lubega of Phaneroo Ministries International: “By the way, I think last week we got another HIV person healed—hallelujah! They have checked and checked; he is clean.” If true, these words would suggest Apostle Lubega performed a miracle. Did he? The claim automatically made viewers/listeners conclude that the pastor’s prayers drove the virus out of the patient’s body. The way he made the claim suggests he deserves credit for the good news.

But Apostle Lubega would struggle to provide evidence that prayers can accomplish something science has struggled to do for decades. Granted, people love good news, and it is always welcome. Many of the pastor’s followers with serious health problems want to hear it, but what if it distorts medical reality? Suppose you bring together 100 people with HIV at Phaneroo Ministries International and pray for them for one year without giving them any antiretroviral treatment at a time they need it, can prayers force the virus out of their bodies?

If anyone is going to claim that someone with HIV no longer has the virus because they have been prayed for, they should be prepared to produce independently verifiable medical evidence. Apostle Lubega continues to draw large crowds and inspire younger people despite this implausible claim. Ugandans have also attributed a viral video purportedly featuring him and claiming he raised four people from death. OJ-UGANDA could not establish the authenticity of that video.

2. Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Centre: On New Year’s Eve in 2005, Pastor prophesied that three presidential candidates would stand in the presidential elections of 2006 and that one would drop out of the race while one would die. Apart from John Ssebaana Kizito, all candidates who ran for president are alive. Mr Ssebaana died much later in 2017.

Pastor Kayanja was recently challenged by social commentator Frank Gashumba to perform a miracle. There is a video online purporting to feature Pastor Kayanja claiming that a member of his church who had a hysterectomy (removal of uterus) managed to get pregnant. OJ-UGANDA could not independently verify the authenticity of that video.

3. Pastor Imelda Namutebi of Liberty Worship Centre:  In 2008, the Observer published a story about a woman named Grace Kashemeire who told churchgoers that Pastor Imelda Namutebi had cured her of HIV/AIDS. Ms Kashemeire, who had lost three husbands to HIV/AIDS, said she had been coached by Pastor Namutebi, the Observer reported, to tell other church members with HIV/AIDS that she no longer needed to use anti-retroviral drugs because she had been cured.

“Twakola nga bukozi ddiilu ne Pastor Namutebi n’agamba nti ngambe abantu nti yansabira ne mpona siriimu,” Ms Kashemeire said in Luganda, meaning: I colluded with Pastor Namutebi; she told me to always testify that she prayed for me and I got healed of HIV/AIDS. According to the Observer, Pastor Namutebi dismissed Ms Kashemeire’s story as a fabrication.

When the Observer phoned her, she confirmed she was Namutebi speaking but later claimed she was not after the reporter started asking about Ms Kashemeire. “She is telling you lies and you will be sued. Let me give you her lawyer’s number,” said the voice that was now claiming to be Namutebi’s secretary.

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