By Joachim Ssembuze
Celebrated City socialite pastor Mondo Franklin Mugisha of the Empowerment
Christian Centre Church International is yet again in hot soup after the Buganda
Road Court issued orders of his arrest over faulting court rules.
Prosecution Lawyers in a hearing yesterday told court Justice that on January 28,
Mondo’s lawyer Robert Rutaaro told court that his client wasn’t in stable health
condition and that he had been flawn out of the country for a COVID-19 treatment
in South Africa and that he had promised that his client would show up yesterday.
However, to the court’s surprise, neither Mondo nor his lawyer did appear in court.
Prosecution further revealed that irrespective of all kinds of excuses, the accused
failed to produce medical documents that would prove their excuse.
In response, Buganda Road Court Grade 1 Magistrate, Gladys Kamasanyu cited
that it’s illegal for any accused to keep giving baseless excuses over not attending
court proceedings.
“Criminal summons were extended on January 28 in agreement that his lawyer
brings him today, but in vain a warrant of arrest is hereby issued to compel him
come to court,” said justice Kamasanyu.
However, Mondo in a recording that spread on social media a few weeks ago noted that his reason for flying out of the country was to seek asylum following witch-hunt on framed charges.
Mondo is jointly charged with Pastor Siraje Ssemanda of of Revival Church
Bombo, Jimmy Arinaitwe and Musician Margaret Nakayima alias Nabbi Omukazi
who are all on remand accept Mondo.
Nabbi Omukazi together with two of her co-accused are allegedly accused of
attempting to help pastor Siraje escape justice where as others are accused of
fleecing a number of their followers with UGX 4.5 billion in a bogus State House
scholarship deal.
Justice Kamasanyu adjourned the case to February 11.
