Credibility of witnesses in Miracle Centre case queried

Apr 04, 2010

THE credibility of two state witnesses in the Rubaga Miracle Centre criminal trespass case was last week questioned during cross-examination.

By Andante Okanya

THE credibility of two state witnesses in the Rubaga Miracle Centre criminal trespass case was last week questioned during cross-examination.

The court at Mwanga II, presided over by magistrate Esther Nakadama, questioned the credibility of Charles Okello and Ivan Lwanga due to inconsistencies in their testimonies when they were cross-examined by defence lawyer
Francis Gimara.

The two are part of the eight statewitnesses lined up to testify against the pastors. The others are David Makumbi, Joel Kizza, Ronnie Kalyowa, Gadaffi Sseremba, Lauben Matsiko and Herbert Tumukunde.

Pastors Robert Kayiira and Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre are accused of straying into the Rubaga
Miracle Centre, owned by Pastor Robert Kayanja, and plotting to steal vital information.

The prosecution alleged that on April 17 last year, Kayiira entered the church premises with intent to intimidate or insult Kayanja. It was further alleged that hewas sent byKyazze to steal information and that he used Tumukunde, a shamba boy at the church, to retrieve it.

Tumukunde confessed that He was promised sh600,000 by Kayiira, who asked him to download vital information onto a laptop from the church’s studio.

However, Lwanga told the court that Tumukunde, who was under his guardianship, did not have computer skills that would have enabled him to download the data.

Lwanga’s testimony contradicted that of Makumbi, Kizza and Kalyowa who on February 24 told the court that Tumukunde was given a laptop to download the information.

Okello, an officer attached to the mobile Police patrol unit, told the court that he was in charge when the pastors were arrested at the Miracle Centre.

Asked by Gimara to identify the people arrested, Okello stunned court, when he said he did not remember them.

Nakadama adjourned the court toMay 4 after prosecution lawyer Betty Agoola asked for more time to find other witnesses.

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