Social media personality Sheila Gashumba has traded barbs with Robert Kayanja Jr after he criticised her influence on young people, escalating the public dispute sparked by her father’s Shs500 million challenge to miracle-working pastors.
Media personality Sheila Gashumba has clashed with Robert Kayanja Jr, the son of Pastor Robert Kayanja, in a social media exchange that has added a personal dimension to the ongoing dispute between her father, Frank Gashumba, and Ugandan evangelical pastors.
The exchange began after Kayanja Jr questioned Sheila’s influence on young people, prompting her to recall how his family had previously sought her help to promote a clothing brand launched by his sister, Kristiana.
The wider dispute began when Frank Gashumba challenged pastors who claim to perform miraculous healings to demonstrate their abilities in regulated hospitals, where the results could be medically assessed. He offered Shs500 million to religious leaders willing to take up the challenge.
Gashumba has defended his position, saying he is targeting what he describes as fake prophets, apostles and miracle workers who use the name of Jesus to exploit poor believers. He has maintained that his criticism is not directed at Christianity itself.
However, his remarks have drawn criticism from religious leaders, particularly his claim that 97 per cent of pastors are fake and his assertion that one Catholic priest is worth more than 1,000 pastors.
Pastor Robert Kayanja, the founder of Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga, has been among those to respond sharply. During a recent church service, he condemned what he described as a growing culture of mocking elders and leaders on social media, particularly TikTok, and accused Gashumba of attacking religious leaders and the Catholic Church.
Kayanja also disputed Gashumba’s claims concerning a medical report in a case involving people he had taken to court, saying the report and police records did not support the allegations. He further recalled a bomb incident at his church, saying worshippers had survived an attack involving an explosive device.
The pastor also took issue with Gashumba’s remarks about releasing a bomb, saying he had crossed the line. The comments came as the disagreement over the Shs500 million challenge continued to attract public attention.
Kayanja Jr subsequently joined the debate by responding to Sheila, who had defended her father. He launched a personal attack on her, writing:
“Reasoning with low IQ people like you is the equivalent of trying to play chess with a pigeon. You flap around, contribute nothing, have no capacity to comprehend what’s going on. A half naked DJ with no musical talent. That’s a real joke of a human being.”
Kayanja Jr went on to accuse Sheila of setting a poor example for young people, claiming her public image had negatively influenced girls.
“I have gone to schools where you have taken your nonsense, leading girls to follow into debauchery, based on the portrayal of how you carry yourself. The majority of the get into depression, make a mess of their lives because of what you portray and do,” he added.
Sheila responded by questioning why the Kayanja family had previously sought her participation in one of its business ventures if they considered her a bad influence.
She recalled receiving a call from Jessica Kayanja in December 2020 inviting her to the launch of Kristiana’s clothing line.
According to Sheila, the family had spent more than a week trying to reach her, and the invitation came with Shs2 million for her to promote the brand on her social media platforms.
Sheila praised Kristiana’s work, describing her as a talented designer who was humble and pleasant.
“The fashion show was 10/10! Kristana is a very talented designer and such a humble and lovely lady!” Sheila wrote.
She then questioned why the family had wanted her associated with the brand if her conduct was as harmful to young girls as Kayanja Jr alleged.
She also accused him of turning a debate about miracle claims into a personal dispute.
“The question was about miracles, when did you divert and make it personal! No one mentioned u and your father’s name from the beginning!” she wrote, advising him to control his temper to protect his father’s legacy.
The wider dispute has drawn differing responses from religious leaders. Pastors Jackson Senyonga and Martin Ssempa have expressed support for calls to expose fraudulent religious practices, while Bishop David Kiganda has challenged Gashumba to substantiate his claims.
Other pastors have called for restraint as the disagreement continues to play out publicly.