DNK International By Our Correspondent,Kampala
Bishop Robert Kayanja is one of Uganda’s most prominent Pentecostal pastors and evangelists, best known as the founder and senior pastor of Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga, Kampala.
He was born on January 24, 1962, in Masooli, Gayaza, in present-day Wakiso District.
Records obtained by Daily News Kenya-International shows that he was born to John and Ruth Walakira, with his father serving as a lay reader in the Anglican Church.
Kayanja is also the younger brother of the late Archbishop John Sentamu, the former Archbishop of York in the Church of England.
Accounts of his early life describe Kayanja as having been called into ministry at about 17 and entering active ministry at the age of 22.
In 1984, he and several young ministers established what became the Miracle Centre in Kampala.
The early church operated from a simple papyrus-reed structure before growing into the large Miracle Centre Cathedral that stands in Rubaga today.
His ministry’s official history similarly says that Kayanja founded the ministry at 22, when services were conducted in a papyrus-reed structure.
The Bishop’s career has been principally identified with Christian ministry, evangelism, preaching, authorship, motivational speaking and religious broadcasting.
His ministry developed around Pentecostal preaching, prayer, faith healing, evangelism and what his ministry describes as miracles, signs and wonders.
Over nearly four decades, Robert Kayanja Ministries says he has preached the Gospel in at least 80 countries through mass Miracle Crusades.
An academic study of his ministry also documented his international faith-healing crusades, including missions in the United States and other countries.
One of his best known milestones was the construction of Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga.
The approximately 10,500 seat church became a major Pentecostal landmark in Kampala and was officially opened in 2004 by President Yoweri Museveni.
Earlier reporting also credited Kayanja with establishing more than 1,000 Miracle Centre churches within and outside Uganda.
One memorable Kampala event was his 50th birthday celebration held at Namboole/Nelson Mandela Stadium in January 2012, where American gospel singer Donnie McClurkin performed before Kayanja and his team conducted a faith-healing service.
His ministry has expanded beyond Sunday services and crusades.
Kayanja is associated with Miracle Bible College, the Never Again Children’s Project, Kapeeka Orphanage and Primary School, the Bucket Project and Channel 44 Television.
His official ministry profile also identifies him as the founder of Channel 44 Television and says he has been involved in agricultural initiatives and humanitarian programmes, including Afri-Aid and the Karamoja Project.
On family matters, Kayanja has been married to Pastor Jessica Kayanja since 1992.
The couple have three children,Robert Kayanja Jr and twin daughters Kirstein and Kristiana.
Their family has also attracted public attention because Kristiana survived brain cancer in 2004, an experience that became part of the family’s testimony.
Kayanja has maintained a visible relationship with Uganda’s political leadership, particularly President Yoweri Museveni.
The relationship has included public appearances at religious and national events, humanitarian initiatives and occasions where Museveni has attended programmes associated with Kayanja’s ministry.
The clearest recent example came in November 2025, when Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni attended Kayanja’s Command the Future Conference at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga.
Museveni spoke about his own exposure to Scripture Union and said his concern regarding born again churches was that they should comply with the law, while leaving questions of religious correctness to God.
Kayanja’s relationship with the government has also extended into social and humanitarian work.
Reports in Kampala have previously linked him with efforts to provide assistance to communities affected by conflict, including food aid initiatives for South Sudan.
Museveni has publicly praised Kayanja and other organisers for participating in such humanitarian efforts.
Throughout his preaching career, Kayanja has repeatedly emphasised faith, healing, hope, restoration, prosperity, hard work and service to others.
One statement attributed to him captures his faith healing message: “God can heal you of any disease… nothing is too big for the Lord.”
His ministry also describes his central message as ministering “love and restoration to a broken world.”
His teachings have frequently linked spiritual faith with practical responsibility.
He has encouraged believers to prosper and use their resources to serve God and help other people.
His ministry’s social projects,including children’s programmes, Bible training, broadcasting and community initiatives,reflect that broader interpretation of Christian service.
Kayanja has not been without controversy.
His long public career has included political and religious debates, including criticism over some of his prophetic statements and a highly publicised 2009 allegation involving alleged sexual assault.
Police investigations later resulted in the alleged victims withdrawing their accusations and claims that they had been induced to make them, the matter subsequently became a major public controversy.
Today, Kayanja remains the senior Pastor of Miracle Centre Cathedral and the leader of Robert Kayanja Ministries.
From a small papyrus-reed congregation started by young ministers in the 1980’s, his ministry has developed into a large Pentecostal organisation with a major cathedral, churches, Bible training, television broadcasting, children’s programmes and international evangelistic activities.
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🗓️ [Daily News Kenya-International@September 27,2026]
