A social media exchange between Sheilah Gashumba and Robert Kayanja Jr, son of Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral lead pastor Robert Kayanja, has brought financial transparency in churches into focus, with the younger Kayanja revealing that their ministry is audited by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The exchange comes amid a public debate about accountability in religious institutions, particularly whether churches should be subjected to the same financial scrutiny expected of companies, hospitals and charity organisations. Sheilah
Gashumba, daughter of media commentator Frank Gashumba, questioned why some churches appeared to lack the level of financial transparency demanded of other institutions, arguing that asking questions about church finances should not be interpreted as opposition to religion.
“If big companies, charity organizations, hospitals can be audited for transparency then why do most churches lack transparency!” she asked.
Sheilah Gashumba argued that questioning financial practices in religious institutions was a legitimate exercise in discernment rather than an expression of hostility towards God or faith.
“Ultimately, questioning these practices is not a sign of being “faithless” or “against God”. It is a rational, necessary exercise in discernment,” she wrote.
She further argued that demanding accountability from religious leaders was consistent with the principles of truth and protecting vulnerable people from exploitation.
“Demanding financial transparency and calling out the exploitation of the poor is entirely aligned with standing up for truth,” she said.
Gashumba reiterated her argument by pointing to the financial scrutiny faced by other institutions.
Kayanja Jr responded by pointing to the financial oversight his family’s ministry undergoes, saying the church is audited by URA and is required to maintain proper financial records.
“By the way, we are audited by the URA. We have to give an account and keep our books in order,” he wrote.
His response offered a direct answer to the question of whether the ministry is subjected to financial scrutiny, although it did not provide details about the scope, frequency or findings of the audits.
The exchange also raises a broader question about the distinction between compliance with tax requirements and the wider public demand for transparency in the management of church finances.
Frank Gashumba’s Shs500m miracle test
The discussion comes against the backdrop of controversy surrounding Frank Gashumba’s reported Shs500 million challenge involving claims of miraculous healing.
Gashumba’s challenge has fuelled a wider public debate about faith healing, the role of money in religious ministries and the responsibility of religious leaders to account for claims made to their followers.
The controversy has attracted responses from people associated with the religious community, including members of the Kayanja family, as discussions about miracles and the credibility of healing ministries continue.
Sheilah’s intervention shifts part of that debate towards financial accountability, questioning why religious institutions should be treated differently from other organisations when it comes to transparency.
Her argument centres on the principle that religious belief should not prevent the public from asking questions about how money is collected, managed and spent by churches.
Kayanja Jr’s response, meanwhile, points to tax compliance and the obligation to maintain proper financial records as part of his family’s ministry’s accountability arrangements.
However, the statement that a church is audited by URA does not, by itself, establish the full extent of its financial transparency to members of the public or congregants.
A tax audit and broader public disclosure of an organisation’s income, expenditure and use of donations are different aspects of financial accountability.
The exchange did not establish whether the ministry publishes its financial statements for congregants or the general public, nor did either participant provide audit reports or other documents detailing the church’s finances.
You can see the full exchange between Sheilah Gashumba and Robert Kayanja Jr Here.
