Was Pastor Bugingo’s Shooting A Stunt? See What Happened And Why Ugandans Refused To Believe It

Pastor Aloysius Bugingo, leader of the House of Prayer Ministries International, has dominated social media discussions since the unfortunate incident on January 2, where he was shot at, resulting in the tragic loss of his bodyguard, Cpl Richard Muhumuza.

The attackers targeted his white Lexus, adorned with a customized license plate reading “PRAIZ GOD,” during his evening commute.Described by the police as an attempted murder, the incident occurred at Bawalakata junction in Rubaga Division.

Bugingo, a tall, pot-bellied, dark-skinned man with close-cropped hair, enjoys popularity among impoverished Christians and has recently ventured into politics, indirectly aligning with the MK movement and occasionally making jabs at NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine. Bugingo’s bodyguard, affiliated with the Special Forces Command (SFC), an elite unit protecting President Museveni, lost his life in the attack.

A week later, Google Trends indicated peak interest in the “Pastor Bugingo shooting” in the central region where the incident occurred.Ugandans, typically skeptical of religious claims, have raised questions about Bugingo’s account of the incident. Many question how Bugingo, despite injuries, managed to drive his Lexus, with a deceased bodyguard, to Mulago Hospital.

While acknowledging Bugingo’s innocence unless proven otherwise, doubts persist, given past incidents involving religious leaders in the country. A key question many have asked is how — “despite sustaining injuries during the attack”, as the police said — Pastor Bugingo had the presence of mind to drive his Lexus, with a dead man, to Mulago Hospital. A trained soldier with combat-operations experience can, but Pastor Bugingo is a preacher.

To be fair, Pastor Bugingo, 51, cannot be accused of any wrongdoing or complicity unless there is direct, incontrovertible evidence linking him to the attack. Cpl Muhumuza probably knew what happened before the attack, but he is dead and buried. Nobody will ever talk to him and ask what really happened on that fateful Tuesday evening.

The skepticism arises from a broader distrust of religious figures in Uganda, fueled by reports of Pastor Dennis Ssenyonga facing fraud charges, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali’s extramarital affair, and Father Anthony Musaala’s call to end celibacy in the Catholic Church. Pastor Bugingo’s critics say he has failed to build the church he promised those who make financial contributions.

And his association with a government that seems to condone criminality complicates matters. Criminality? Yes. There is a photo on the internet of a powerful NRM politician meeting an alleged robber who is currently languishing in Luzira Prison. That alleged robber, whose real name is Charles Olim but is widely known as Sipapa, was once guarded by soldiers — a fact that was confirmed by Brigadier Felix Kulayigye.

The connection between Bugingo and a regime linked to criminal elements contributes to public suspicion, reflecting broader concerns about religious leaders in Uganda.

Author; Uwesa Bruhan Siraj – He is a political analyst, activist, social worker and a professional teacher.