HEADLINE: Apostle Lubega Breaks Silence on Kololo Grounds Dispute, Accuses Rival Church of “Hypocrisy”
KAMPALA – Apostle Grace Lubega, founder and leader of Phaneroo Ministries International, has publicly addressed the contentious dispute with Pastor Tom Mugerwa of Mutundwe Christian Fellowship (MCF) over the booking of Kololo Independence Grounds, labelling the actions of his counterparts as “hypocrisy.”
The conflict, which simmered throughout 2023, centred on both ministries seeking to secure the prestigious venue for their separate end-of-year crossover prayer events. Phaneroo had utilised the grounds for its large-scale gatherings for three consecutive years prior.
In his detailed account, Apostle Lubega revealed that in early 2023, he followed the standard application process to secure the venue but encountered an unusual silence from government authorities. It was later discovered that the grounds had been double-booked and the authorization granted to MCF.
“I initiated the standard paperwork to secure the ground for that year, but this time I was met with an uncharacteristic silence from government authorities, only to discover that the grounds had been double-booked and authorised for MCF instead,” Lubega stated.
Attempting a peaceful resolution, Lubega said he sent multiple delegations to MCF leadership. Initially, he claims, MCF leadership attributed the overlap to an accident and promised to withdraw their request. However, no formal letter of withdrawal ever followed.
The situation escalated during a mediated speakerphone call with a senior church elder. Lubega alleges that during this call, Pastor Tom Mugerwa distanced himself from the booking, blaming an overzealous church member for making the payment.
Expressing his frustration, Apostle Lubega drew a sharp contrast between public perception and the conduct displayed in the dispute.
“I have never seen such hypocrisy in my life,” he remarked. “While Phaneroo is often labelled a cult by detractors, it was the ‘righteous’ who were behaving with such lack of transparency.”
The dispute highlights the fierce competition for high-profile public venues among Uganda’s growing mega-churches, especially for symbolic year-end events. While Phaneroo eventually held its 2023 crossover service at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds (a separate venue), the incident has exposed underlying tensions.
Pastor Tom Mugerwa and the leadership of Mutundwe Christian Fellowship have yet to issue a public response to Apostle Lubega’s specific allegations.
The matter raises questions about the booking protocols for national venues and the interplay of influence between large religious institutions and state authorities.
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