Staff
This morning, lawyers for Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga employed familiar tactics to once again block key suspect Reagan Ssentongo from testifying in Mwanga II Court.
In a previous session, Magistrate Adams Byarugaba ruled that an expert would examine and extract information from Ssentongo’s phone to assist the suspect’s testimony in a case involving Pastor Robert Kayanja.
Following up on that session, State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya sought four court orders concerning Reagan Ssentongo’s biodata. Magistrate Byarugaba granted the request despite attempts by the defense team to block it.
The court issued orders for:
Luzira Prison to provide Ssentongo’s biodata captured upon admission, his identification documents, and details of his prison history.
The Headteacher of Kyaggwe Road Primary School to confirm whether Ssentongo was ever a pupil at the school.
The Executive Secretary of Uganda National Examinations Board to verify if Ssentongo sat for Primary Leaving Examinations and whether a UNEB Center has ever existed at Rubaga Miracle Centre.
“The Court does not see any harm in NIRA or the school providing this information; therefore, the Court will issue the orders,” Magistrate Byarugaba stated, reiterating his stance this afternoon.
This marks the fourth time the defense has successfully blocked Ssentongo from testifying, a move the prosecution views as a delay tactic. The State Attorney argued that Ssentongo should take the stand immediately, claiming his testimony is independent of the phone records, which would only be used to cross-check facts.
The defense countered: “Your Honor, he cannot remember everything since he has spent years in prison. He definitely needs his phone records to guide his testimony. Since the Court has already ruled on this, let us wait; the data might even be ready this evening. I am being honest here, Your Honor.”
The State Attorney expressed concern over the timeline: “The defense asking for January 28th is not in the best interest of their clients. This adjournment request is akin to a punishment for the accused. The law states that for someone on remand, an adjournment should not exceed 15 days.”
Adjournment and Prior Convictions
Magistrate Byarugaba adjourned the case to January 13, 2026, ordering those on bail to appear and directing Prisons to produce Ssentongo and his co-accused for the mention.
“Ssentongo will be given a copy of the report to study so that we do not waste more time. If he is ready to testify that day, we will proceed. If not, we will return on January 23rd to have him take the stand,” the Magistrate ruled.
Ssentongo has agreed to testify under oath alongside his co-accused: Sserugo, Labib Khalifa, Alex Wakamala, and Martin Kagolo.
It is worth noting that in 2022, Reagan Ssentongo and Khalifa Labib were sentenced to six years for aggravated robbery and assault. They are currently seeking bail at the Masindi High Court before Judge Issa Sserunkuuma.
The two men, former workers at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s farm in Kiryandongo who allegedly became his tormentors were found guilty of attacking Mr. Patrick Turyatemba at his home in Kigumba, where they beat him and sprayed him with pepper spray. Following the April 25, 2020 incident, police found pepper spray in their room. Chief Magistrate Lucy Kabahuma sentenced them to six years, accounting for the one year already spent on remand.
