Sheilah Gashumba and Robert Kayanja Jr. have clashed on X as the dispute surrounding Frank Gashumba’s Shs500 million challenge to pastors claiming miraculous healing powers escalates into a personal exchange.
Sheilah, the daughter of social commentator Frank Gashumba, entered the debate to defend her father against accusations that his criticism of some pastors amounted to an attack on Christianity. She argued that his concerns centred on alleged fake miracles, pressure on poor believers to give money and a lack of financial accountability in some churches.
“No one questioned God & Jesus’ existence or miracles! We are questioning the stunts posed as ‘miracles’, pastors continuously asking for ridiculous tithe from people, mostly the poor, every week promising them miracles!” she wrote.
Sheilah also rejected claims that her father does not believe in God, citing his Catholic faith and regular attendance at Mass. She questioned the use of curses against her father and his family, asking whether such conduct aligned with Christian teachings.
Kayanja Jr. Defends His Father’s Ministry
Robert Kayanja Jr., a senior pastor at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga, defended his father, Pastor Robert Kayanja, against allegations that the church stages miracles or lacks financial accountability.
He pointed to charitable activities, including feeding vulnerable communities and supporting children’s education, and cited interventions in Karamoja as examples of the ministry’s community work.
“We went to Karamoja to feed people and save lives,” he wrote.
On church finances, Kayanja Jr. said the ministry maintains financial records and is audited by the Uganda Revenue Authority.
“By the way, we are audited by the URA. We have to give an account and keep our books in order,” he stated.
He also maintained that pastors do not perform miracles themselves, attributing healing to Jesus.
“My dad has made that clear at every crusade: ‘Robert Kayanja doesn’t heal. Only Jesus heals,’” he wrote.
Kayanja Jr. also broadened the discussion by questioning why Islam was not subjected to similar scrutiny. He referred to a September 2023 security incident involving Miracle Centre Cathedral, claiming that militants linked to the Allied Democratic Forces and Al-Shabaab had delivered a bomb to the church.
Dispute Turns Personal
The exchange reportedly became more personal after Kayanja Jr. criticised Sheilah’s influence on young people and attacked her appearance and professional identity.
He accused her of setting a poor example for girls, making claims about the effect of her public image on young people. Those assertions were presented as his allegations and were not independently substantiated in the material provided.
Sheilah responded by recalling an invitation she said she received from Jessica Kayanja in December 2020 to attend the launch of Kristiana Kayanja’s clothing line.
According to Sheilah, the family had tried to reach her for more than a week and offered her Shs2 million to promote the brand on social media. She praised Kristiana’s work, describing her as a talented designer.
Sheilah questioned why the family had sought her promotional support if they believed she was a harmful influence on young people.
“The question was about miracles, when did you divert and make it personal! No one mentioned u and your father’s name from the beginning!” she wrote, according to the account of the exchange.
How Frank’s Shs500 Million Challenge Started
The wider controversy began when Frank challenged pastors, apostles and prophets who claim miraculous healing powers to demonstrate their abilities under verifiable conditions in a hospital.
He initially offered Shs200 million before increasing the proposed reward to Shs500 million for a religious leader who could demonstrate the healing of a critically ill patient at a major hospital, such as Mulago National Referral Hospital or Nsambya Hospital.
Frank has maintained that his criticism targets religious leaders he considers fraudulent, rather than God or Christianity. Several religious leaders have since responded, with some supporting greater scrutiny of alleged fraudulent practices and others arguing that faith cannot be reduced to a cash contest.
The clash between Sheilah and Kayanja Jr. has added a family dimension to a debate that began with claims about miraculous healing but now also encompasses church finances, religious accountability and the conduct of public figures on social media.