Media personality Frank Gashumba has challenged self-proclaimed pastors, apostles and prophets to demonstrate their healing powers on critically ill patients in hospitals, questioning why believers continue to die in medical facilities located near churches and miracle centres.
Gashumba has reportedly increased his bet from Shs200 million to Shs500 million in cash, challenging the religious leaders to prove their claimed miraculous healing abilities.
His remarks have sparked debate about faith healing, the commercialisation of religion and the lifestyles of some religious leaders who promise miracles to their followers.
In his criticism, Gashumba questioned why pastors who claim to heal diseases through prayer and miracles do not visit nearby hospitals to help critically ill patients recover.
He challenged the clerics to demonstrate their claimed powers at Mulago National Referral Hospital, arguing that their abilities should be tested on patients requiring urgent medical attention.
Gashumba also questioned the lifestyles of some religious leaders, contrasting their expensive vehicles and security convoys with the financial struggles of ordinary believers who support their ministries.
“Your same crook pastor, prophet or apostle who lies to you that they are protected by the blood of Jesus is protected by the army or SFC and is driven in a convoy of the latest G-Wagons while you foot or drive your little Vitz,” Gashumba said in a statement circulating online.
He further argued that churches have increasingly become businesses, accusing some religious leaders of using claims of divine healing and spiritual protection to influence believers while accumulating wealth.
Gashumba maintained that doctors are the professionals who treat sick people and warned followers against allowing religious promises to replace medical treatment.
His challenge has attracted reactions from online commentators, with some backing his call for accountability among religious leaders while others may view his remarks as an attack on faith and religious practices.
One commentator described Gashumba’s challenge as a test of the claims made by miracle workers, arguing that those who publicly promise healing should be willing to demonstrate their abilities in hospitals rather than limiting them to church services.
The debate has renewed questions about the relationship between faith and medical treatment in Uganda, where churches play a significant role in the lives of many people.
While prayer remains an important source of spiritual support for many believers, medical professionals continue to play a critical role in diagnosing and treating illnesses.
Gashumba’s reported Shs500 million challenge now places the spotlight on the claims made by self-proclaimed miracle workers and the need for accountability among religious leaders who promise extraordinary results to their followers.
