Prayer minister Pr Martha Ssemakula has reportedly responded strongly to motivational speaker and political commentator Frank Gashumba amid growing criticism from religious leaders over his challenge to pastors who claim to perform miracles.
Ssemakula accused Gashumba of repeatedly mocking God and warned that he could one day find himself in a situation where he needs the very religious leaders he is criticising to pray for him.
“That guy has mocked God over and over. May God put him in a situation where he’ll have to wait for a pastor to pray for him,” Ssemakula reportedly said.
Her remarks come after Gashumba challenged pastors, prophets and apostles who claim to perform miracles to demonstrate their powers publicly. He reportedly offered Shs200 million to any religious leader willing to enter the intensive care unit of a major hospital and heal a patient in front of the public.
The challenge has generated widespread debate, with some Ugandans supporting Gashumba’s demand for greater accountability from religious leaders, while others argue that miracles are matters of faith and cannot simply be performed on demand to win money.
Ssemakula’s response adds to the growing number of religious voices speaking out against Gashumba’s remarks. Some pastors believe his challenge unfairly questions their faith and ministry, while supporters of the challenge maintain that extraordinary claims should be open to scrutiny.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the influence of religious leaders in Uganda, where churches regularly attract large congregations for prayer, worship and healing services. Pastors who claim to perform miracles often receive strong support from believers who say they have witnessed or experienced spiritual healing.
Gashumba has not been reported to have responded directly to Ssemakula’s latest remarks. Meanwhile, the debate over his Shs200 million challenge continues, with the public waiting to see whether any pastor will accept the offer and how the disagreement between the commentator and religious leaders will develop.
