news 14 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Court orders arrest of suspect in Pastor Kayanja framing case
A warrant of arrest has been issued for Martin Kagolo, one of nine youths accused of fabricating evidence to falsely implicate Pastor Robert Kayanja. Kagolo failed to appear in court without explanation, prompting the magistrate's order for his immediate arrest. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/court-issues-arrest-warrant-against-suspect-in-pastor-kayanja-case-5459740
The Mwanga II Court in Natete-Rubaga has issued a warrant for the arrest of Martin Kagolo, a suspect in the case involving fabricated evidence against Pastor Robert Kayanja. Kagolo was expected in court on Thursday but failed to appear, leading Senior Principal Magistrate Adams Byarugaba to order his apprehension.
Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya requested the warrant, citing that issuing criminal summons might be ineffective when the accused person’s whereabouts are unknown. Neither Kagolo’s legal team nor his co-accused provided an explanation for his absence, and his phone contacts were unresponsive.
Magistrate Byarugaba emphasized the duty of accused individuals to inform the court of any unavoidable circumstances preventing their attendance, noting that absenteeism wastes judicial time and disrupts proceedings. He warned that repeated absence could lead to the accused disappearing before the trial concludes.
In addition to the arrest, the court will require Kagolo to explain why his bail should not be revoked. A stop order has also been placed, preventing him from leaving Uganda until the trial’s completion.
The case involves nine youths accused of creating false evidence, including allegations of homosexuality and sexual abuse against Pastor Kayanja. Previous testimony from digital forensic expert Enock Kanene indicated that pornographic and homosexual videos found on an accused’s phone were not linked to Pastor Kayanja. Kanene stated no explicit material was sent from the pastor’s known number, though some videos were received from other contacts, and one suspect admitted to receiving information from a contact saved as ‘Adrian’.
Kanene’s handling of the forensic procedures also came under scrutiny, as he admitted to contacting one of the accused directly, acknowledging this could be considered unethical conduct. The case is adjourned to May 21 for further hearing and re-examination of Kanene.
This article is based on information from the Daily Monitor.