TAKEAWAYS

• Analyst Frank Gashumba is pursuing legal action following a prophetic threat from Pastor Robert Kayanja regarding his safety.
• Gashumba accused religious leaders of keeping followers in poverty through continuous requests for tithes and seed offerings.
• The businessman criticized pastors for encouraging patients to swap life-saving medical treatments for prayer and miracles.

Businessman and analyst Frank Gashumba has revealed that he is taking threats allegedly directed at him by pastors, particularly Pastor Robert Kayanja, seriously, following his recent controversial remarks about religious leaders.

Appearing in an interview, Gashumba disclosed that his comments about certain church practices had attracted attacks and threats from different people, including Pastor Kayanja, who prophesied that something terrible would happen to him within a year.

However, Gashumba says he is not taking the ‘prophecy’ lightly, fearing that someone could use it as an excuse to harm him and make it appear as though the pastor’s prophecy had come true.

He revealed that he has decided to pursue legal action to ensure that there is accountability should anything happen to him, adding that he wants the relevant authorities and the public to know who to hold responsible.

‘I don’t take those threats lightly because he can conspire with goons to harm me so that his words appear to be true.”

Gashumba also announced plans to write to President Yoweri Museveni and the Speaker of Parliament over what he considers exploitative financial practices in some churches.

He questioned why congregants are repeatedly asked to give money through different contributions, including offertory, tithes and seed offerings, arguing that such practices only keep ordinary people in poverty.

He believes the President and other authorities responsible for regulating such activities may not be fully aware of what is happening in some churches.

Beyond the financial demands, Gashumba also criticised pastors who allegedly encourage people to abandon medical treatment in favour of prayers and miracles.

“Somebody goes to hospital, they tell them that they are HIV positive and give them a cocktail of drugs to survive on, then pastors tell them to leave the drugs,” Gashumba said, claiming that some people have subsequently lost their lives after following such advice.

He added that he had come into contact with people who died from cancer after allegedly receiving misleading advice from religious leaders.

Gashumba further questioned why Kayanja, who is known for conducting healing services, could not save his own brothers who reportedly died from diabetes and cancer if he performs miracles.

In a further personal jibe, Gashumba took aim at Kayanja’s appearance, questioning why the pastor could not pray for his own bald head and perform a miracle to restore his hair.