High court upholds ban on live coverage in pastor Kayanja sodomy trial
The High court in Kampala has upheld an earlier decision by the Magistrate’s court to prohibit live media coverage in the ongoing criminal trial of nine individuals accused of providing false information to police involving Pastor Robert Kayanja.
Delivering his ruling, justice David Matovu dismissed an application by two of the accused, Alex Wakamala and Jamilu Mwandha, who had contested an order issued on April 5, 2024, by Adams Byarugaba, the senior principal magistrate at Mwanga II Grade One court.
The magistrate’s directive barred live audio and video recordings during proceedings but allowed accredited media to cover the case with minimal disruption. The restrictions followed reports that elements of the trial were being distorted and sensationalized on social media platforms such as TikTok, thereby compromising the court’s integrity.
The case, which has drawn considerable public interest, involves allegations that the nine accused falsely implicated Kayanja, leader of Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral, in acts of sodomy. Media outlets complied with the restrictions throughout the prosecution phase, which included testimonies from over 13 witnesses.
However, Wakamala and Mwandha challenged the ban when it came time for the defence to present its case, arguing that the prohibition undermined transparency and risked skewing public perception. State attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, who is leading the prosecution, defended the restrictions, citing the risk of misinformation and public manipulation.
“The applicants’ intentions lean toward trivialising and misrepresenting the court process,” Muwaganya argued.
Justice Matovu sided with the prosecution, stating that the magistrate’s ruling was both legally justified and procedurally sound.
“Permitting unregulated coverage could undermine the credibility of witness testimony,” the judge noted.
He also faulted the applicants for the 10-month delay in challenging the order and criticised their legal team for not adequately reviewing court records before filing the petition.
“If the lawyer had carefully examined the proceedings, he would have guided the applicants more accurately,” Matovu added.
The court clarified that while live broadcasts remain barred, journalists are still permitted to attend hearings and produce written reports, provided they adhere to the court’s conduct guidelines. Justice Matovu emphasized that the restrictions are necessary to ensure orderly trial management and subsequently dismissed the application, allowing the defence proceedings to continue under the same terms.
The accused have chosen 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 Kayanja of committing unnatural offences.
Additional charges include conspiracy to defeat justice, criminal trespass, and providing false information to police. According to prosecution records, accused individuals, some of whom were police officers at the time, allegedly misled Detective IP Cotilda Nandutu by claiming the pastor had sexually assaulted them.
However, medical examinations reportedly found no evidence of sodomy. As the trial enters its next phase, the High court’s decision is expected to set a precedent for managing media coverage in sensitive, high-profile legal cases.
