Mengo Magistrate’s Court has given the prosecution and defence until December 9, 2026, to file their final submissions in the case involving nine suspects accused of trespassing at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s Lubaga Miracle Centre, giving false information, conspiracy to commit a felony and alleged sodomy.
The decision was made by Mengo Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba after both sides agreed to close the matter concerning a Makerere University video and audio translator who had been expected to provide evidence in the case.
The defence had questioned the credibility of the translator and told the court that it no longer had confidence in the witness, whom it suspected could have been influenced or compromised.
Bernard Mugenyi, one of the defence lawyers, told the court that the defence had initially wanted the Coordinator of Makerere University’s College of Languages and External Services to appear and testify about the translation of the audio and video recordings.
However, the defence said its efforts to secure the coordinator’s attendance had not succeeded.
Mugenyi said although the court had powers to compel the coordinator to appear, the defence had lost confidence in calling him as a witness.
“We know that the court has powers to compel the coordinator to appear before the court, but we no longer have faith in him because he might have been influenced,” Mugenyi told the court.
He said the defence had already presented sufficient evidence to support its case and therefore did not need to pursue the attendance of the Makerere coordinator.
In response, state prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya said the prosecution had no objection to the defence abandoning its attempt to call the witness.
Muwaganya said the decision was entirely within the defence’s control because the coordinator was their intended witness.
“If they have lost interest in their own witness, it means they have their own reasons for the non-attendance of the coordinator from Makerere University,” Muwaganya said.
He added that the defence’s concerns and the absence of the witness suggested that there could have been issues surrounding the witness.
Court records show that on May 2, 2025, the defence disclosed a flash disk containing two video recordings and two audio recordings.
On July 17, 2025, the defence disclosed additional video and audio recordings, which were presented by different witnesses during the proceedings.
The recordings became an important part of the case, with the defence seeking to rely on them in challenging the allegations against the nine suspects.
The case has been before the court since June 2023. During the trial, the prosecution presented 13 witnesses, while the defence called 10 witnesses.
With both sides now indicating that they have completed their evidence, the court has moved the case to the final submissions stage.
Byarugaba directed the prosecution and defence to file their final submissions by December 9, 2026.
The court then adjourned the case to December 9, 2026, when the matter is expected to come up for further proceedings.
