Pastor Bugingo’s World Cup Prophecy Backfires as Spain’s Victory Sparks Online Mockery

KAMPALA — Pastor Aloysius Bugingo, one of Uganda’s most prominent televangelists, has come under intense scrutiny on social media after Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an outcome that contradicted a prediction he made weeks before the tournament.

The founder of House of Prayer Ministries International and proprietor of Salt Media has been trending across Ugandan social media platforms, with many users sharing clips from a June Lunch Hour broadcast on Salt TV in which he confidently predicted the teams he believed would emerge victorious in the tournament.

During the broadcast, Bugingo declared that Argentina, Brazil, France and Portugal were the four teams he believed had the strongest chance of lifting the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy, and that one of them would be triumphant.

He even told his congregation to keep the recording so they could play it when his prophecy comes to pass.

Spain was notably absent from his list.

Instead, La Roja mounted a remarkable campaign, eliminating Portugal in the Round of 16, defeating France in the semi-finals and edging Argentina 1-0 in the final to win their second World Cup title.

The outcome quickly prompted social media users to revisit the pastor’s prediction, with many portraying it as a prophecy that had failed.

When Spain lifted the trophy on Sunday, the resurfaced video spread rapidly across social media, triggering thousands of reactions ranging from humorous memes to sharp criticism over the pastor’s prophetic claims.

Several users edited Bugingo’s prediction alongside footage of Spain’s celebrations, while others questioned whether the remarks were genuine prophecy or simply personal opinion.

Jokes and sarcastic posts mocking the prediction circulated widely, making the topic one of Uganda’s most discussed online conversations following the World Cup final.

The episode has reignited debate over the growing trend of religious leaders making public predictions about sporting events and other global affairs.

Supporters of the pastor argued that prophetic messages should not always be interpreted as absolute guarantees and urged critics not to judge his ministry based solely on a football prediction. Others, however, said religious leaders should exercise greater caution before presenting personal opinions as divine revelation.

Bugingo is no stranger to public controversy. Over the years, he has built one of Uganda’s largest evangelical followings through his energetic preaching, television broadcasts and radio programmes. His outspoken style has frequently generated national debate.

Beyond his ministry, he has attracted attention over his personal life, including his separation from former wife Teddy Naluswa, his marriage to Susan Makula, and the construction of the multi-billion-shilling Pentagon church complex at Canaan Land in Makerere-Kikoni.

His ministry has also endured significant challenges. In January 2024, Bugingo survived an assassination attempt in Kampala in which his bodyguard, Richard Muhumuza, was fatally shot. Despite the attack, he has continued leading large weekly services attended by thousands of worshippers.

As of Monday, Bugingo had not publicly responded to the latest online criticism surrounding his World Cup prediction.

The episode underscores the powerful intersection of faith, football and social media in Uganda, where statements by influential religious leaders can quickly become national talking points—especially when events unfold differently from their predictions.

In June, Bugingo stirred discussion after saying that if he found money buried in his compound, he would regard it as a miracle and keep it. (See Details Here).