Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I There seemed no end to the bad blood between social commentator Frank Gashumba and prominent Pentecostal pastors, until the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba demanded that the outspoken critic apologise to Christians across Uganda.
Muhoozi, who also chairs the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), intervened in the escalating controversy through a series of social media posts on October 17, 2026, distancing his organisation from Gashumba’s criticism of pastors who claim to perform miraculous healings.
“Gashumba will apologize to Christians in the country. PLU has no problem with pastors in Uganda,” Muhoozi wrote.
The military chief followed the demand with a warning about discipline within the political pressure group, signalling that the organisation would not support unnecessary confrontation with religious institutions.
“In PLU there is order. We do not tolerate chaos and disorder,” he posted.
The intervention places pressure on Gashumba to reconsider his approach to a controversy that has expanded beyond questions about alleged fake miracles into a bitter public exchange involving religious leaders, their families and supporters.
The dispute began when Gashumba challenged born-again pastors, prophets and apostles who claim supernatural healing powers to demonstrate their abilities on critically ill patients in hospitals under publicly verifiable conditions.
To drive home his challenge, Gashumba initially offered Shs200 million to any preacher who could successfully heal a critically ill patient, later increasing the reward to Shs500 million.
His remarks provoked strong reactions from sections of the religious community, particularly Pastor Robert Kayanja, who rejected suggestions that miracles associated with his ministry were fake and maintained that healing comes from God.
The exchange between the two men has since escalated, with both sides attracting public attention as the debate over faith, accountability and the credibility of miracle claims continues.
Muhoozi appeared to take a more conciliatory position towards the religious community, urging Ugandans not to dismiss preachers simply because they appear insignificant or operate outside established expectations.
Drawing from the biblical account of Jesus Christ’s birth, he argued that religious messengers should not be judged by their outward appearance or perceived status.
“Almighty God chose for His son, Jesus Christ, to be born in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. Not in a palace in Jerusalem. So, let us not despise messengers who seem small,” he wrote.
The CDF also invoked Matthew 7:16, which teaches that people can be recognised by their fruits, suggesting that the actions and outcomes of religious ministries should guide how their leaders are assessed.
However, his defence of religious leaders did not amount to an endorsement of every practice associated with Pentecostal worship.
In a separate post, Muhoozi expressed scepticism about pastors who make worshippers fall during church services, saying he did not believe God was interested in making people fall.
“No pastor can make me fall down,” he said, adding jokingly that his wife, Charlotte, was the only woman who could make him fall down.
Despite that caveat, Muhoozi expressed personal admiration for Kayanja and indicated that he intended to visit his church.
“Personally, I like Pastor Kayanja. I will attend one of his services one day,” he posted.
His comments amount to a public show of support for Kayanja at a time when the pastor remains at the centre of the dispute with Gashumba.
The controversy has also drawn in members of both families. Gashumba’s daughter, Sheilah Gashumba, has defended her father during a public exchange with Robert Kayanja Jr, arguing that questioning alleged fake miracles and the exploitation of believers should not automatically be interpreted as an attack on Christianity.
Gashumba’s wife, Malaika Mutoni, has separately criticised the extension of the dispute to children and future generations, urging Jessica Kayanja to ensure that disagreements between the adults do not affect innocent family members.
Muhoozi also weighed in on religious freedom, although one of his social media posts claimed that Satanism was banned and could attract a lengthy prison sentence without citing a specific law supporting the assertion.
The CDF’s intervention has therefore added a new political dimension to a dispute that began with a challenge over miracle healing.
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