A police doctor has told the Mwanga II Chief Magistrate’s Court in Mengo that some of the youths accusing the lead pastor of Lubaga Miracle Centre Church, Robert Kayanja of sodomizing them had injuries and scars around their anus when he examined them.
Dr Bwambale Phenehas, who testified before Chief Magistrate Adams Byarugaba on Monday during cross examination by chief state attorney Jonathan Muwaganya said he medically examined seven of the youths in 2021 following investigations into allegations that some of them had been sexually abused by pastor Kayanja.
His testimony came in the case in which Pastor Kayanja is accused of sexually abusing and sodomising nine youths, allegations he has denied.
The youths had allegedly accused the pastor of sexually abusing them after joining his Miracle Centre church, with some claiming they were sodomized at the church premises.
Dr Bwambale, a police medical officer who was attached to KMP North and handled cases involving sexual offences, told court that his involvement in the matter followed instructions from Inspector Nandutu, who was then handling the case at the regional level.
He said he examined the complainants in three groups, with some examined at Nsambya Police Hospital and others in Masindi Prison where they were inmates.
Among those he examined was Peter Serugo, whom he said he examined on November 2, 2021, while the 21-year-old was being held at Masindi Prison.
According to Dr Bwambale, Serugo told him that he had joined Kayanja’s church in 2016 and that, about two weeks later, he was allegedly summoned to a church office where he claimed Pastor Kayanja began making romantic advances towards him and promised him several good things.
The doctor further told court that Serugo alleged that in 2017 he was sodomized for the first time and subsequently began experiencing pain in his lower abdomen and anus, particularly after sitting for long periods.
Dr Bwambale said his examination of Serugo’s body showed that while his mental state appeared normal, there were injuries around the anus and scars internally, which he said were consistent with both external and internal injuries.
The doctor told court that such injuries could result from several causes, including trauma, solexual abuse involving penetration [sodomy], infections and sexually transmitted diseases.
He consequently recommended that Serugo undergo an X-ray examination.
Another complainant examined by Dr Bwambale was Alex Wakamala, whom the doctor said he examined at Nsambya Police Hospital on October 26, 2021, when he was 26 years old, unemployed and living with a partner.
Wakamala allegedly told the doctor that he had joined Kayanja’s church about five years earlier, initially participating in church activities before he was later taken to Kiryandongo at Kayanja’s farm.
The doctor said Wakamala alleged that Kayanja sexually abused him about 10 times, claiming the alleged abuse occurred after evening church services in the pastor’s office.
Dr Bwambale said Wakamala’s general physical and mental condition appeared normal, but his anal area had injuries.
He told court that the injuries could have resulted from external or internal trauma, including penetration, sexually transmitted infections or other causes.
The doctor again recommended an X-ray because of the pain Wakamala was reportedly experiencing.
Dr Bwambale also told court that his medical report recorded Wakamala’s allegation that the person who sexually abused him [Pr. Robert Kayanja] used a condom and lubricants and was uncircumcised.
He said Wakamala also had a circumcision scar and another scar around his neck.
The doctor said he also examined Peter Ssentongo, who was being held at Masindi Prison, and that Ssentongo reportedly told him he had been sexually abused twice.
Other youths examined included Kalifa Labibu, Moses Tumwiine, Martin Kagoro and Simon Tumukunde.
Dr Bwambale said Labibu declined to undergo another examination unless he was brought to court from prison, while the medical examinations of Tumwiine, Kagoro and Tumukunde did not reveal abnormalities around their anal areas.
The doctor nevertheless told court that the youths had given accounts alleging that pastor kayanja, while bumshafting them used condoms and lubricants and was uncircumcised.
But the testimony came under scrutiny during cross-examination by government prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya, who questioned the doctor about the evidential value of his medical findings.
Muwaganya sought to establish what evidence Dr Bwambale had to conclusively determine that the people he examined had been sexually abused, putting the doctor’s medical findings under the spotlight.
The case, which has attracted significant public attention since the allegations first emerged, is expected to resume on October 1, 2026, when further evidence will be heard.
