Today (3rd January, 2016) is Pr. Dr. Martin Ssempa’s Birthday, but has the country noticed? The preacher’s silence and disappearance from the public is a matter worth noting.
Martin Ssempa (born 1968) is a Ugandan-American pastor and activist, founder of the Makerere Community Church.
Known for leading a crusade to “kick sodomy out of Uganda”, Pr Ssempa endorsed the proposed legislation in Uganda that makes homosexual acts punishable by life in prison, although this law latter didn’t yield much fruit.
Martin Ssempa was born in Naluzaale of Uganda’s Masaka District in 1968 to a single mother. He did not know who his father was. His mother was a teacher and he changed schools often as a child.
Ssempa graduated from Makarere with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, specialising in sociology. He later received a Master of Arts degree in counselling from Philadelphia Biblical University.
In 2006, that same university awarded Ssempa an unaccredited honorary doctorate for his work with people with AIDS. In 2010, it denounced Ssempa for his public policy on sodomy in Uganda.
In October 2012, Ssempa and five other individuals were convicted in Buganda Road Court of conspiring to tarnish a rival pastor’s reputation by falsely accusing him of engaging in homosexuality.
The guilty verdict stemmed from a May 2009 incident in which Ssempa and the others engaged in a conspiracy to coerce a male church member at Robert Kayanja’s Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral to claim that he had sexual relations with Kayanja.
The six individuals, including Ssempa, were sentenced to a fine of one million shillings each (about US$390) and one hundred hours of community service.
From that day in court, he hasn’t been seen much around public places and events. His program on WBS TV named ‘Ssempa@360’ also came to a halt soon after.
A few Ugandans have today taken to social media celebrating his birthday.
“To the man I honor, look up to, trust, wish the very best in life happy birthday to you. You are such a great pillar in the Nation of Uganda especially among the Youth. There will always be a sword for the Lord on my right and a sword for you on my left. God prosper you to greater heights. Happy Birthday Dr Martin Ssempa the Pastor.” Wrote a one James Okurut.
“Happy Birthday Daddy Pr. Dr. Martin Ssempa. A revolutionary voice in the land. Pastor, broadcaster, mentor, …..we all know him for several things in our lives.” Wrote Deogratius Emmanuel.
male@ugchristiannews.com
