We can exclusively reveal that Self-styled pastor Franklin Mondo Mugisha of the now defunct Empowerment Christian Centre Church International, who had sought refuge in South Africa to avoid incarceration for fraud in Uganda, has fled to the United States after a tip off on an impending covert operation to capture and bring him back home.
The Investigator can authoritatively report how Mondo Mugisha who was initially wanted for allegedly defrauding over UGX5Bn alongside Presidential Advisor Catherine Kusasira and Pastor Siraj Ssemanda, the founder of Revival Church Bombo in Luweero District, fled SA for USA.
His troubles started after a group of pastors under their umbrella, Body- Hands Across the World, petitioned Lt. Col Edith Nakalema, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit Head, accusing the trio of soliciting the said funds from them with a promise of foreign trips to Israel, as well as taking them to President Yoweri Museveni for a meeting
When Kusaasira and Mondo appeared at the State House Anti-Corruption Unit head offices on 18th November 2020 for grilling, only the former was released and subsequently cleared of the charges, while the later was detained at Wandegeya police for two days.
After securing bond, Mondo briefly but tactfully maintained a grounded presence on local Tv and radio stations to plead his innocence and at one time, he posted on his social media pages, his account of the events as below;
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m here to make this clear and to clear the air. I have never been a Director in Hands Across the world organization. I’m not a Director, I have not signed on any document of this organization. Just to make this clear, I’m a silent victim like many,” Mondo said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
He continued; “Pastor Silaje invited me like many of his preaching guests he invited after I became a Victim… He has been inviting high profile people to his church. I find it funny [to see] my name on Media…Tarnishing my name. I don’t work for President`s office. I have never written to anybody in the name of the president…it’s all blackmail.”
However, after hoodwinking security, Mondo had hitherto claimed to have been attached to security and that he was in the reserve force. He however clandestinely fled town using the road through Busia, to Nairobi and eventually to South Africa where he had held forte until about three months ago.
When at one time he was pressed on why he had chosen to evade court, where he was wanted to answer the said charges, Mondo through his lawyers maintained that he had flown to South Africa for treatment. The state lawyers told court that Mondo’s lawyers had failed to produce medical forms to confirm his admission to any hospital in South Africa.
However, on 4th February 2021, in response, the trial grade one magistrate, Gladys Kamasanyu issued an arrested warrant against Mondo, saying it is only the warrant that can have him forcefully brought to court.
He has since been trying to revamp his ministry and is now trotting several states with the latest being Washington DC, in a bid to set up a permanent base. Though he still claims innocence, his co accused pastor Siraj is still languishing in prison.
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