For those in the know, blondes are said to always come up with excuses like ‘the dog ate my homework’ when they run out of reason.
And for the umpteenth time, lawyers hired by Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga to defend nine youths charged with blackmailing Pastor Robert Kayanja pulled off yet another delay tactic at Mwanga II Court.
Late last year, they requested an adjournment of the case, claiming that their so-called “Star Witness,” Reagan Ssentongo, had information to be retrieved from his phone.
Defense lawyers Humphrey Tumwesigye, Robert Odhiambo and Bernard Mugenyi saw their wish granted and the case was pushed to January 13th this year. Come last week, they claimed they weren’t ready and requested another adjournment to today, January 23rd.
However, to the court’s surprise and disgust, they again claimed they weren’t ready despite the report was already in their hands and requested another adjournment, a move that rubbed State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya the wrong way.
“Your Honor, for this particular witness, court gave us five days which were not utilized; another five were added and now, two are also gone. We need to be mindful of the time,” the State raised its point.
He went ahead and prayed that this should be the last time the defense team plays the same game of delaying justice. “Your Honor, the witness was ready to speak to court, but the defense is now pushing the agenda that he needs more time.”
It should be recalled that the case has dragged on for over three years as a result of their cat-and-mouse games, a move for which Magistrate Adams Byarugaba strongly warned them.
“Both parties should be ready for a marathon of lengthy court sessions because we have to catch up with the time lost. I don’t want excuses going forward, and I hope you have taken this warning seriously.”
Before adjourning the case to February 4th, 2026, the Magistrate stressed his warning, saying, “I don’t want to hear excuses of being involved in election petitions. And just know that we will proceed regardless of the absence of any of the defense lawyers.”
As Ssentongo agreed to appear as a witness under oath unlike his co-accused; Sserugo, Labib Khalifa, Alex Wakamala, and Martin Kagolo, State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya made a prayer that time shouldn’t be wasted.
One wonders why the lawyers continue with the delaying tactics of asking for adjournments every now and then. Is it because they have realized that they are on the losing track and simply want to prolong the inevitable?
Prior to the start of the case, it is alleged that Ssenyonga’s bodyguard Isreal Waiswa, together with his Personal Assistant Aggrey Kanene, took the young men to the police doctor for a medical checkup which turned out negative, and the police doctor testified as such under oath.
A number of suspects were later visibly coached, albeit to testify without swearing oaths, as if they had something to hide. Well, that and the continued delays continue to raise eyebrows.
It should also be recalled that in 2022, the witness Reagan Ssentongo and co-accused Khalifa Labib were sentenced to six years for aggravated robbery and assault crimes and are currently pursuing bail at Masindi High Court before Judge Issa Sserunkuuma.
The two men, who are former workers at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s farm in Kiryandongo and allegedly turned into his tormentors, were found guilty of robbery and assault. They were convicted of attacking Mr. Patrick Turyatemba at his home in Kigumba, beating him up, and spraying him with pepper.
The accused persons were arrested after the incident, which occurred on April 25th, 2020, and were found in possession of pepper spray in their room. Chief Magistrate Her Worship Lucy Kabahuma gave them a punishment equivalent to six years, including the one year they had spent on remand.