Gashumba Offers Shs500m Challenge to ‘Men of God’ to Heal ICU Patients
By Mark Peter Sseggiriinya
KAMPALA — Frank Gashumba, the original table shaker, has returned with another episode of “Who Sent You?” This time, the socialite and political commentator has set his sights on the “men of God,” shaking a kimeeza with expensive drinks and a controversial financial challenge.
Speaking live on radio, Gashumba initially staked Shs200 million, later raising the offer to Shs500 million, challenging any pastor, prophet, apostle, bishop, or other man of God with a spiritual title longer than their CV. The challenge? To accompany him to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), identify a critically ill patient, and heal them instantly.
According to the column, Gashumba maintains he is ready to be saved and will apologize publicly if someone pulls it off. He describes this not as a television spectacle with dramatic background music, but as a crusade in a hospital where people are genuinely fighting for their lives.
The Backlash from the Pulpit
However, the response has not been the stampede to Mulago that one might expect. Instead, Gashumba has faced criticism, ridicule, and accusations of disrespecting Christianity and challenging God.
Men of God argue that miracles are not performances to be staged on demand. They contend that healing depends on God’s will, and turning faith into a cash wager fundamentally misunderstands the spiritual process. Others have pointed to the church’s extensive community work and support for vulnerable people, insisting that ministry cannot be reduced to a single hospital challenge.
To the faithful, God is not a “boda rider” one can call and instruct to arrive in five minutes. They argue that faith is deeply personal, and genuine believers should not be lumped together with the minority who may exploit it for financial gain.
The Question of Accountability
Despite the pushback, the column questions why a challenge aimed at demonstrating healing has generated so much heat but so little interest in agreeing to a transparent examination of the claims.
Gashumba insists he is not attacking God or Christianity, but rather targeting what he considers fake miracles and preachers who exploit vulnerable people. His argument raises uncomfortable questions about ministries that promise healing from serious illnesses while soliciting money from people desperate for a breakthrough.
In a country where someone can sell land, borrow money, or spend their life savings chasing a miracle, the author argues that accountability is not an unreasonable demand. The columnist notes that the public deserves evidence, not merely microphones, insults, and people speaking in tongues at one another across radio stations.
A Conversation Demanding Scrutiny
For now, the money remains part of the debate, insults are flying, and Ugandans are enjoying the spectacle as only they can. While Gashumba may be provocative, the column concludes that he has opened a conversation that deserves more than name-calling.
If religious leaders genuinely believe their healing ministries are authentic, the article suggests they should welcome honest scrutiny. It calls on them to step forward, explain what their claims mean, and provide the evidence that supports them.
About The Author
