Witness quizzed over 'confession' in Kayanja case

 

AN INDEPENDENT witness in the Pastor Robert Kayanja reputation has been quizzed by a defence lawyer over an ‘audio confession’ implicating Kayanja as a sodomist.

 

Brian Ntwatwa was grilled by Kato Sekabanja to own up to an ‘audio confession’ recorded by one of the accused Pastors Solomon Male of Arising for Christ Ministries.

 

Ntwatwa was being cross-examined at Buganda Road Court in Kampala in the case where six people including four pastors are accused of tarnishing Kayanja’s reputation. He maintained that the pastors asked him to lie in exchange for an American work permit and $20,000.

 

The other accused are pastors Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church, plus Michael Kyazze and Robert Kayiira of Omega Healing Centre.

 

Also accused are business woman Dorothy Kyomuhendo, and local musician David Mukalazi. 

Prosecution alleges that in 2008 and 2009 at various places within Kampala district, the accused “conspired to cause injury to Kayanja’s personality and reputation.

 

In the audio recording of about 45 minutes, that was played to court, Ntwatwa ‘confessed’ to Male that Kayanja attempted to sodomise him in 2006 at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in 2006.The audio was recorded at Male’s office  in 2009 at Span House in  Kampala.

 

Also in the recording, Ntwatwa stated that Kayanja’s wife Jessica knew about his double life and that she was recruiting girls into lesbianism. 

 

Sekabanja pinned him, saying what he intimated to Male was the actual version of events as they happened. He asked Ntwatwa to admit that the audio recording was genuine.

 

But Ntwatwa stunned court, when he claimed that Male edited the audio with bias to suit his interests. He maintained that the ‘audio confession’ contained a pack of lies.

 

“Male edited things according to his version. These were concocted lies. Recording with Male was a lie to tarnish Pastor Kayanja’s reputation. He never attempted to sodomise me,” Ntwatwa said.

 

Sekabanja cited inconsistencies and doubted the credibility of Ntwatwa testimony, saying he was hiding the truth. Asked why his testimony had inconsistencies, and whether he knew that his lies would jeopardise the lives of the accused, Ntwatwa said his intentions were genuine.

 

He defended himself, saying the inconsistencies were proof that the plot to tarnish Kayanja’s name was not genuine. Ntwatwa said if the intentions were truthful, then the inconsistencies would not have arisen.

 

Additionally, he said he declined to sign an affidavit that had been fabricated by Male. Ntwatwa further stated he genuinely told the truth in his retraction statements recorded at Police May 2 and 30, 2009, where he dispelled the lies he told in the statement dated April 6, 2009. Defence tendered in the May statements as defence exhibits.

 

However, Sekabanja wondered how Male knew Ntwatwa’s purported damning story better than he (Ntwatwa) did. But Ntwatwa insisted that his testimony was truthful.

 

Other defence lawyers present in court were Paul Rutisya, Francis Gimara, Edward Akankwasa, and David Semakula Mukiibi. Prosecution was led by Patricia Cingtho who delegated for the indisposed Stephen Asaba.

Further hearing continues on Thursday.