Aloysius Bugingo
{{Short description|Ugandan pastor and businessman}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{reliable sources|date=June 2020}}
{{Undisclosed paid |date=August 2020}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aloysius Bugingo
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| landscape =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|11|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Masaka
| occupation = Pastor, businessman
| spouse = Susan Makula Bujingo{{cn|date=October 2021}}
}}
Pastor Aloysius Bugingo is a Ugandan born-again pastor and businessman.{{Cite web|title=Profile: How Pastor Aloysius Bugingo became one of the most successful pastors in Uganda|url=https://flashugnews.com/pastor-aloysius-buggingo-profile-his-early-life-family-and-christian-ministry/|date=25 August 2019|website=Flash Uganda Media|language=English|access-date=14 May 2020}} He is the Director of Salt Media Group of Companies,{{Cite web|title=pastor aloysius bugingo – theinsider.ug|url=https://theinsider.ug/index.php/tag/pastor-aloysius-bugingo/|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} and a church in Makerere, Kikoni, Kampala, the House of Prayer Ministries International (also known as Canaan land). He was named the most influential born-again preacher by the East Africa Book of Records.{{Cite web|title=Pr. Bujjingo appreciates Ugandans for voting him|url=https://saltmedia.ug/en/church/1408-pr-bujjingo-appreciates-ugandans-for-voting-him.html|website=salt media|language=en-gb|access-date=14 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Why Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo Was Awarded The Most Admired And Influential Born Again Faith Leader In Uganda|url=https://www.saltmedia.ug/en/local/1366-why-pastor-aloysius-bujjingo-was-awarded-the-most-admired-and-influential-born-again-faith-leader-in-uganda.html|website=salt media|language=en-gb|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Pastor Aloysius Bugingo Archives|url=https://kyakala.com/tag/pastor-aloysius-bugingo/|website=Kyakala|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}}
Early life and education
Aloysius Bugingo was born in Masaka and grew up with his maternal grandparents who took care of him after his mother left to live in Rwanda, with his Rwandan father. His uncle prevented him from continuing to a higher level of education, and Bugingo eventually left for Kampala as a teenager following his uncle's abuse.
Upon reaching Kampala, Bugingo initially ended up on the streets, but through friends was directed to Ssentongo Godfrey, who offered Bugingo work at his house and a place to stay. He worked as a House Boy at Ssentongo's house for a while, before Ssentongo gave him a job making and selling popcorn at Owino market. He saved enough money to start his own hawking business selling household items and ladies' dressing gowns around Kampala city. He moved to the Kampala suburb of Kazo, renting a small single room.
Bugingo has a bachelor's degree in theology,{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo Acquires Degree {{!}} Kampala Sun|url=https://kampalasun.co.ug/2019/06/28/pastor-bugingo-acquires-degree/|language=en-US|access-date=14 May 2020}} and a certificate in Christian Culture Mentoring, received on 28 June 2019 from Kayiwa International University.{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo Heeds Gov't Call, Acquires Degree|url=https://campusbee.ug/news/pastor-bugingo-heeds-govt-call-acquires-degree/|date=28 June 2019|website=Campus Bee|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} He was awarded for his contributions to the development of the Pentecostal Church in Uganda, and graduated top in his year.{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo Graduates in Theology – theinsider.ug|url=https://theinsider.ug/index.php/2019/06/28/pastor-bugingo-graduates-in-theology/|language=en-US|access-date=14 May 2020}}
Pastoral career
On Christmas Eve, 1992, Bugingo found salvation at KPC (present day Watoto church) during a screening of a Christian film, Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames.
Bugingo started serving as a Pastor at Victory Christian Centre Ndeeba.{{Cite web|title=Aba Victory Christian Centre, Bujingo gye yava nga tasiibudde bavumiridde eky'okwokya Bayibuli|url=https://www.bukedde.co.ug/bukedde/amawulire/1451757/aba-victory-christian-centre-bujingo-gye-yava-nga-tasiibudde-bavumiridde-ekyokwokya-bayibuli|date=23 April 2017|website=www.bukedde.co.ug|access-date=21 May 2020}} He began participating in a Christian talk radio station based in Ndeeba, Impact FM, by making phone calls to the broadcast. Bugingo started working as a church assistant, organising the church and leading worship. Joseph Sserwadda, the lead Pastor at Victory Christian Centre Ndeeba, was impressed with his work and appointed him Pastor. In addition to his ministry as a pastor, Bugingo took on other roles at Impact FM, including moderating faith programmes such as Manya Kyokiriza. Bugingo worked at Victory Christian Centre and Impact FM until 31 December 2010, when he resigned, against the wishes of Sserwadda.
After leaving Joseph Sserwadda, Aloysius Bugingo and his wife Teddy founded House of Prayer Ministry International (HPMI),{{Cite web|title=Canaan Land HOUSE OF PRAYER MINISTRIES, Central (+256 207 777777)|url=https://vymaps.com/UG/Canaan-Land-HOUSE-OF-PRAYER-MINISTRIES-9955/|website=vymaps.com|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo's Shs70b Church is the greatest religious fraud in Uganda|url=https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20190117/59407/pastor-bugingos-shs70b-church-is-the-greatest-religious-fraud-in-uganda.html|date=17 January 2019|website=Watchdog Uganda|language=en-GB|access-date=21 May 2020}} Their ministry began at Bat Valley Theatre.
HPMI launched Salt FM in 2014 and SaltTelevision in 2015.{{Cite web|title=Over 40000 Souls Turn to Jesus|url=https://www.saltmedia.ug/en/local/1145-boy-arrested-over-capturing-gaboon-viper-salambwa.html|website=salt media|language=en-gb|access-date=21 May 2020}} The church congregation and listenership on Salt Radio increased steadily, especially Bugingo's lunchtime prayer services. At one point church members rented out Bat Valley Primary School playground as not everyone could fit in the church.{{Cite web|title=God has Always Protected Kampala – Afande Omala|url=https://chimpreports.com/god-has-always-protected-kampala-afande-omala/|date=2 January 2015|website=ChimpReports|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} The growing number of HPMI members prompted a search for a bigger piece of land to house the church.
Bugingo has been involved in public feuds with many other pastors in Kampala. He sometimes uses his preaching to accuse fellow pastors of robbing their church members,{{Cite web|title=Robbing, cunning pastors blasted|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1311699/robbing-cunning-pastors-blasted|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Bugingo Tells Off Fellow Pastors: Let's Stop Mobile Money, Corona is Enough Burden for Christians Now|website=mulengeranews.com|url=https://mulengeranews.com/bugingo-tells-off-fellow-pastors-lets-stop-mobile-money-corona-is-enough-burden-for-christian-now/|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} which has led to feuds between Bugingo and other pastors in the city that are still ongoing. He has been accused of trying to tarnish the other pastors' character to attract their followers to his church.
Bugingo began teaching about missing Bible verses in the Good News and King James Bibles that refer to the Holy Spirit as 'Holy Ghost'. He asked Christians to stop reading the Bible because it was misleading them. He instead encouraged Christians to read the King James Version, but only after ensuring that every verse is present and the 'Holy Spirit' is not 'Holy Ghost'. In Bugingo's view, a ghost cannot be holy, meaning any Bible referring to the Holy Spirit as Holy Ghost is satanic. In 2017 Bugingo declared a burning of the 'satanic' Bibles.{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo under fire for burning 'deceptive' Bibles|url=https://observer.ug/news/headlines/52482-pastor-bugingo-under-fire-for-burning-deceptive-bibles|website=The Observer |language=en-gb|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Ugandan Pastor Under Fire for Burning 'Deceptive' Bibles|url=https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00051259.html|date=24 April 2017|website=allAfrica.com|language=en|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo Burns Thousands of Holy Bibles at Makerere Kikoni|url=https://campusbee.ug/news/pastor-bugingo-burns-thousands-holy-bibles-makerere-kikoni/|date=18 April 2017|website=Campus Bee|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Bible burning sparks outrage in Uganda|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/bible-burning-sparks-outrage-uganda/|date=30 April 2017|website=The Independent |language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} He was later sued in court, but denied the accusation, saying he was not referring to physical fire, but 'spiritual' fire. Bugingo was sued at Nabweru Magistrates Court in 2017 by two Christians, Aloysius Kizza Matovu and Evangelist Francisco Semugooma for burning Bibles. Bugingo won, as the presiding Judge said the accusers failed to produce solid evidence that Bugingo had burnt the Bibles, and the fire they showed of Bibles did not indicate him anywhere.
In February 2019, Bugingo's church was sued in the High Court for noise pollution.{{Cite web|title=Court gives Pastor Bugingo 60 days ultimatum|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1502867/court-pastor-bugingo-days-ultimatum|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=14 May 2020}}
Bugingo donated Ushs100 million to the Ugandan government to fight against COVID-19.{{Cite web|title=How Pastor Bugingo outsmarted critics with his Shs100m COVID-19 donation to government|url=https://www.watchdoguganda.com/entertainment/showbiz/20200421/91138/how-pastor-bugingo-outsmarted-critics-with-his-shs100m-covid-19-donation-to-government.html|date=21 April 2020|website=Watchdog Uganda|language=en-GB|access-date=14 May 2020}}
In January 2024, Aloysius Bugingo was injured in an attack which killed his bodyguard. Ugandan police said they were investigating the attack as an "attempted murder".{{Cite web|title=Un célèbre pasteur ougandais blessé dans une "tentative de meurtre"|url=https://www.voaafrique.com/a/ouganda-un-pasteur-influent-soutien-du-pr%C3%A9sident-bless%C3%A9-dans-une-tentative-de-meurtre-/7424717.html|date=3 January 2024|website=Voa Afrique|language=fr-FR|access-date=3 January 2024}}
Personal life
In the early 1990s, Bugingo married Teddy Naluswa, and the couple lived in poverty. Despite clashes over Bugingo's born again faith, they stayed together for their children. Bugingo and Naluswa have three daughters, Doreen Gift, Winnie, and Jenifer Bugingo, and one son, Miracle Bugingo.{{Cite web|title=I'll stay discreet for my kids, in-laws' peace – Pr Bugingo|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1499754/stay-discreet-children-laws-peace-bugingo|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=14 May 2020}}
Bugingo's marriage to Teddy made the national news in Uganda when the couple's conflicts became public. Teddy subsequently stopped attending church,{{Cite web|title=Bugingo wife quits over church assets|website=Mulengera News|url=https://mulengeranews.com/bugingo-wife-quits-over-church-assets/|last=Joshua|first=Walakira|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} and Bugingo told the church congregation that she and their daughter Doreen were working against his ministry and trying to steal church assets.{{Cite web|title=Court to hear Pastor Bujjingo's divorce case, dismisses wife's|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Court-to-hear-Pastor-Bujjingo-s-divorce-case/688334-5244822-6y48baz/index.html|last=Kigongo|first=Juliet|date=22 August 2019|website=Daily Monitor|language=en|access-date=14 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Profile: Who is Pastor Aloysius Bugingo?|url=https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20190504/67416/profile-who-is-pastor-aloysius-bugingo.html|date=4 May 2019|website=Watchdog Uganda|language=en-GB|access-date=14 May 2020}} Bugingo claimed that Teddy had demanded a share of church land in exchange for a divorce.{{Cite web|title=No way back! Pastor Bugingo insists on divorce, offers to share UGX2b property with estranged wife|url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2019/07/no-way-back-pastor-bugingo-insists-on-divorce-offers-to-share-ugx2b-property-with-estranged-wife.html|date=11 July 2019|website=PML Daily|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} Other religious leaders disapproved of Bugingo's behaviour.{{Cite web|title=What religious leaders think of Pr. Bugingo|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1513332/religious-leaders-bugingo|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=14 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title="Pastor Bugingo is teaching heresy about marriage – Flee", Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe {{!}} Church of Uganda|url=https://churchofuganda.org/info/pastor-bugingo-is-teaching-heresy-about-marriage-flee-rev-onesimus-asiimwe|website=churchofuganda.org|access-date=21 May 2020}} In 2019, Bugingo was criticized by fellow preachers and the public for insulting his wife Teddy publicly and disclosing their marriage secrets.{{Cite web|title=Bugingo: Pastors speak out|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1503679/bugingo-pastors-speak|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=14 May 2020}}
Teddy Bugingo launched her own church, Word of Salvation Ministries International (WSMI) in January 2020.{{Cite web|title=Teddy Bugingo launches own church|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1512909/teddy-bugingo-launches-church|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=14 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Bugingo is mine and will return – Teddy Naluswa|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1513666/bugingo-return-teddy-naluswa|website=www.newvision.co.ug|access-date=14 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Pastor Bugingo's wife Teddy Naluswa opens own church|url=https://flashugnews.com/pastor-bugingos-wife-teddy-naluswa-opens-new-church-word-of-salvation-ministries-international/|date=6 January 2020|website=Flash Uganda Media|language=English|access-date=14 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Teddy Bugingo Starts Own Church|url=https://chimpreports.com/teddy-bugingo-starts-own-church/|date=7 January 2020|website=ChimpReports|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}} In 2020, five pastors were alleged to have left HPMI for Teddy Bugingo's Church.{{Cite web|title=He is a disgrace! Five pastors leave Bugingo, join wife's new church|url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/01/he-is-a-disgrace-five-pastors-leave-bugingo-join-wifes-new-church.html|date=7 January 2020|website=PML Daily|language=en-US|access-date=21 May 2020}}
In September 2019 he was quizzed by Minister Nakiwala over child neglect.{{Cite web|title=Video: Bugingo quizzed by minister Nakiwala over child neglect|url=https://nilepost.co.ug/2019/09/18/video-bugingo-quizzed-by-minister-nakiwala-over-child-neglect/|date=18 September 2019|website=Nile Post|language=en-US|access-date=14 May 2020}}
Bugingo subsequently entered into a relationship with Susan Makula. In December 2019, she announced that she was pregnant with twins.{{Cite web |title=Pastor Bugingo Finally Parades Off Heavily Pregnant Suzan Makula, With Reports of Expecting Twins|url=https://eyalama.com/pastor-bugingo-finally-parades-off-heavily-pregnant-suzan-makula-with-reports-of-expecting-twins/|date=7 January 2020|website=Accurate Uganda News,Leaks,Politics, Entertainment,Travel ,Rwanda-Uganda Conflict and Special Reports|language=en-US|access-date=14 May 2020}}
In June 2021, he was reported to have contracted COVID 19.{{Cite web|last=Jamal|first=K. Y.|date=2021-06-14|title=Pastor Bugingo Reportedly Battling with Covid -19|url=https://celebpatrol.com/pastor-bugingo-reportedly-battling-with-covid-19/|access-date=2021-11-15|website=Celeb Patrol UG|language=en-US}}