The dispute surrounding the Mwanga II Magistrate’s Court proceedings has escalated into a wider and multi-layered legal, media, and regulatory confrontation involving KTV, Top TV, Channel 44 TV, legal representatives of Pastor Robert Kayanja, lawyers representing the accused persons, and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), as competing complaints over broadcast coverage and court reporting continue to shape developments outside the courtroom.
The matter, which has been progressing at Mwanga II Magistrate’s Court under the State versus nine accused persons, has attracted sustained public attention following earlier broadcasts, courtroom reporting, and wider debate over testimony and materials presented during hearings. The case has remained active with continued adjournments as proceedings unfold before Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Adams Byarugaba.
The background to the dispute traces back to earlier events in which individuals later connected to the case were reportedly part of a group associated with Pastor Kayanja’s Kiryandongo farm activities under the 77 Days of Glory (77-DOG) transformation programme. The individuals were said to have been former offenders who were rehabilitated and later assigned to work on the farm as part of the programme’s reintegration process.
In 2021, during the Covid-19 period, some of these individuals appeared at Miracle Centre Cathedral, where they staged a protest over alleged non-payment. A video that later circulated widely showed the group accusing the church leadership, with claims made in the recording that they had been subjected to abuse and had not been paid for work done. The incident escalated into a confrontation at church premises, after which the group was arrested and taken to Old Kampala Police Station.
It is at Old Kampala Police Station that a further connection is reported to have emerged involving a local chairman identified as Jamiru of Mengo Kisenyi. Through this link, the matter is said to have reached Bishop Kiganda, who then became aware of the allegations being made against Pastor Kayanja. From there, the matter reportedly expanded further into engagement with other religious leaders including Pastor Ssempa and Pastor Ssenyonga, with Ssenyonga’s aide, Wasswa, allegedly playing a role in facilitating police bond for some of the individuals at an early stage.
In 2024, a separate development emerged when Pastor Kayanja, during a Friday overnight service at Miracle Centre Cathedral, publicly displayed what he described as a communication “matrix” on church screens claiming that “they called each other over 1846 phone calls in one day”to plot against Pastor Robert Kayanja. The presentation was used to support claims of coordinated communication between individuals allegedly involved in efforts against him. This material later became part of wider public discussion, although it also attracted dispute regarding its interpretation and evidential value, particularly after it was later not relied upon in court proceedings.
The matter eventually progressed into formal criminal proceedings at Mwanga II Magistrate’s Court, where the case is being heard as Uganda versus nine accused persons. Among those linked to the proceedings is Ssentongo Reagan, alongside others, with the case also involving attempted murder-related charges as part of the broader criminal file. Some of the accused are reported to be in custody and attending court from prison facilities, including Luzira Prison, as proceedings continue.
KTV and Top TV began actively following the court process and reporting developments as hearings progressed. On 19 March 2026, the case gained wider attention after court proceedings were featured in a news bulletin programme on KTV known as Amalindirire. Following this broadcast, the story spread rapidly on social media, drawing national attention to the ongoing court case and the materials being referenced during hearings, including forensic testimony presented by police experts.
The following week, on 24 March, Pastor Kayanja addressed the issue during a church service, where he publicly stated that the KTV story was false. He announced that legal action would be taken against KTV and journalist Annet Nakayibale, accusing them of misrepresenting court proceedings.
In response, KTV issued a press statement maintaining that its reporting was factual and based on information presented in court. The station insisted that its coverage reflected proceedings as they occurred and rejected claims that the story was fabricated.
Shortly after, legal representatives acting for Pastor Kayanja, through Ssembebwa & Co. Advocates, issued a formal notice of intention to sue KTV. The notice demanded a public apology to be aired through KTV news platforms and also called for a halt to further coverage of the Mwanga II court proceedings. The lawyers warned that failure to comply would result in legal action and a compensation claim reportedly exceeding UGX 500 million.
At the same time, the lawyers representing the nine accused persons, Ojambo & Ojambo Co. Advocates, also wrote to the Uganda Communications Commission raising separate concerns. They alleged that Pastor Kayanja and his television station Channel 44 had broadcast information that misrepresented the ongoing court matter and could influence public perception of the proceedings, triggering a parallel complaint process within the regulatory framework.
Following heightened media coverage and competing complaints, Pastor Robert Kayanja and his legal team also formally wrote to UCC raising concerns over how KTV and Top TV were reporting developments from court. In response, UCC engaged the broadcasters and directed them to submit their written defences.
Both KTV and Top TV subsequently submitted their defences to the Commission, maintaining that their reporting was based on court proceedings and reflected what had been presented during hearings.
UCC then scheduled a joint engagement meeting for Wednesday, 29 April, bringing together all concerned parties to address the disputes over media coverage of the Mwanga II court case.
However, the meeting did not proceed with full participation at principal level. Bishop David Kiganda attended representing KTV, while Pastor Robert Ssenyonga attended representing Top TV. Pastor Robert Kayanja did not personally attend the meeting and instead sent his legal representatives to appear on his behalf and on behalf of Channel 44 TV.
During the engagement, the legal representatives for Kayanja and Channel 44 reportedly pushed for a position requiring KTV and Top TV to stop covering the Mwanga II court proceedings altogether, arguing that continued reporting risked misrepresentation of the ongoing case and could prejudice public understanding of the matter.
However, because key principals were not all present in person and positions remained divergent, the meeting did not result in a binding agreement on restricting media coverage. The discussions remained unresolved on whether broadcasters should continue reporting from court or limit coverage.
Following the engagement, the Uganda Communications Commission ruled that KTV, Top TV, and Channel 44 TV would be allowed to continue covering the Mwanga II court proceedings, effectively maintaining that reporting on ongoing judicial matters could proceed under established broadcasting guidelines.
At the same time, UCC emphasized that all parties must adhere to regulatory standards on accuracy, fairness, and responsible reporting, particularly given the sensitivity of an ongoing criminal trial involving multiple accused persons and contested public narratives.
The Commission also adjourned further engagement on the matter to 2 June, when all parties are expected to return for continued review of complaints and counter-complaints arising from media coverage of the case.
The dispute now stands as a continuing regulatory, legal, and media standoff, with court proceedings at Mwanga II continuing alongside parallel disagreements over reporting, legal threats, and regulatory oversight involving all major stakeholders.
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