Court Maintains Ban on Live Broadcast of Pastor Kayanja Sodomy Case

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1155 EAT on Monday 21 July 2025

The High Court in Kampala has upheld a lower court’s decision to block live media coverage of the ongoing trial of nine individuals accused of providing false information to police in a case involving Pastor Robert Kayanja.

Justice David Matovu ruled against an application by two of the accused, Alex Wakamala and Jamilu Mwandha, who had challenged the April 5, 2024 directive issued by Senior Principal Magistrate Adams Byarugaba of the Mwanga II Grade One Court.

The magistrate’s order barred live audio and video recordings during the proceedings but allowed accredited journalists to cover the case, provided their reporting did not disrupt the court.

The restrictions were prompted by concerns that parts of the trial were being distorted and sensationalized on social media platforms—especially TikTok—posing a risk to the integrity of the judicial process.

The case, which has attracted significant public attention, centers on allegations that the nine accused falsely implicated Pastor Robert Kayanja—leader of Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral—in acts of sodomy. Media outlets have largely complied with the court-imposed restrictions during the prosecution phase, which featured testimony from more than 13 witnesses.

However, Wakamala and Mwandha challenged the broadcast ban as the defence phase began, arguing that the restrictions undermined transparency and could distort public perception of the trial. State attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, who is leading the prosecution, defended the limitations, citing concerns over misinformation and the potential for public manipulation.

“The applicants’ intentions lean toward trivialising and misrepresenting the court process,” Muwaganya told the court.

Justice Matovu sided with the prosecution, ruling that the magistrate’s decision was both legally justified and procedurally sound.

“Permitting unregulated coverage could undermine the credibility of witness testimony,” the judge observed.

He also criticized the applicants for waiting 10 months to challenge the order and faulted their legal team for failing to thoroughly review court records before filing the petition.

“If the lawyer had carefully examined the proceedings, he would have guided the applicants more accurately,” Justice Matovu added.

The court clarified that while live broadcasts remain prohibited, journalists are still allowed to attend hearings and produce written reports, provided they comply with the court’s conduct guidelines.

Justice Matovu emphasized that these restrictions are necessary to ensure the orderly management of the trial and subsequently dismissed the application, allowing the defence proceedings to continue under the existing conditions.

The accused have opted not to testify under oath, a legal strategy that prevents the prosecution from subjecting them to cross-examination. The prosecution alleges that the group, along with others still at large, conspired in September 2021 to falsely accuse Pastor Kayanja of committing unnatural offences.

Additional charges against the accused include conspiracy to defeat justice, criminal trespass, and providing false information to the police.

According to prosecution records, some of the accused—several of whom were police officers at the time—allegedly misled Detective IP Cotilda Nandutu by claiming that the pastor had sexually assaulted them.

However, medical examinations reportedly found no evidence of sodomy. As the trial moves into its next phase, the High Court’s ruling is expected to set a precedent for managing media coverage in sensitive and high-profile legal cases.

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