Controversial Pastor Aloysius Bugingo’s House of Prayer Ministries is heading for the tough times, if revenue collection is anything to go by. The church, which is located in Makerere, has seen dwindling revenues since the Pastor began having problems with his wife Pastor Teddy Bugingo.
A Senior Member of the Church, who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity says that times are really getting hard.
“We used to collect at least thirty two million shillings every week, which was about one hundred and forty four million shillings a month. In a year, that could be over one billion shillings. But nowadays, we are receiving about two million shillings a week, which is about eight million shillings a month,” the Church Member says.
When asked how this revenue came to fall, he contends that the bad news coverage, especially the one that states that the Pastor was taking the money to his new catch and to build another house, was one of the factors.
“People want to know that their money is being used for the right reasons, not being taken for selfish activities. Even the Pentagon project has now stalled, because we are unable to convince people to give to us huge amounts of money. This scandal really cost us a lot,” the resigned Church Member said.
It can be recalled that Pastor Bugingo has been tussling it out with his wife for many months now, with various issues being played out in the press. The latest backlash that the Pastor has faced, is one where he is said to have refused to pay fees for his children, because they do not approve of his plans to get another wife and leave their mother. The matter which has reached legal proportins, with Teddy Bugingo’s lawyers rushing to court to get assistance to compel him to pay took all and sundry by surprise. They felt the Pastor had sunk too low.
It is not clear whether the Church will continue to stand if the revenues do not rise again.A Church uses its collections to facilitate various expenses of its operations.Some of it is expected to pay security guards, electricity and other costs.Without a steady stream of good collection,it is difficult for a Church to continue in operations. So far there are also reports that Salt Media, which has also been financed by monies collected by the church are also facing the pinch.Salt Media (Radio, TV and Bwino Newspaper) staff are reportedly not to have received their salaries for August and September 2019.This suggests the financial woes being faced the Church.
