GASABO - Thousands of people flocked to Amahoro National Stadium yesterday as renowned Ugandan tele-evangelist, Pastor Robert Kayanja, started his long awaited three-day gospel crusade.On his arrival at Kigali International Airport earlier yesterday, the famous Miracle Centre Cathedral preacher, was welcomed by a large excited crowd of the faithful, including local religious leaders.


Kayanja, who enjoys international repute, arrived with a team of about thirty people including his wife, Jessica Kayanja and two of his children.

Besides the ‘Miracle Healing Crusade’ in which Kayanja is the main preacher, Jessica is due to address a one-day ‘girl-power’ crusade exclusively for women at the nearby Petit Stade.

"I am waiting for him here; I want blessings. I don’t know whether I will grab him or what, all I know is that I must get a blessing from this man.

Many people are just as anxious as I am,” Shyaka, one of the people who were waiting at the airport, said.

The Ugandan pastor is also expected to speak to different groups in Rwanda including high profile leaders in the political, business and the church world.

In a rather tight security, Kayanja was driven to Serena Hotel Kigali where he rested for few minutes before being received by local pastors in the Jali Club’s big tent.

Hundreds of pastors and a select group of black clad gospel singers filled the tent as one of the long-serving pastors Bishop Charles Rwandamura of Kicukiro-based United Christian Church (UCC) welcomed the visitor who had kept the crowd waiting for long.

Addressing church leaders at Jali Club, Kayanja of the crusade: "The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk and the dumb will speak. Just encourage them to have faith in God.”

"It is time for the international community which used to see Rwanda as a humiliated country of poverty, genocide and bad leadership, to come and witness the development, peace, harmony and love that are flourishing here,” he said.

He said God has a big plan for Rwanda. "People are going to wonder and get surprised on how God is changing and making new developments in Rwanda.”

The visiting pastor paid glowing tribute to President Paul Kagame, whom he said has a great vision for the country.

Kayanja also urged all Rwandans to embrace the culture of patriotism, saying that being patriotic does not mean that one has to be a politician, but was rather an indication of just how much people loved their country.

"Every Rwandan should be proud of being a Munyarwada; God did not make a mistake to create you the way you are, as a Rwandan. You shouldn’t despise yourself because of your past.

God is well aware of what is happening here.”
He urged the nation to implement what the word of God says, adding that it would steer the country to development.

Pastor Kayanja is the founder and the senior pastor of the Ugandan-based mega church, Miracle Centre Cathedral in Kampala, which has a capacity to seat over 10,000 worshipers.

The widely-travelled preacher who is particularly known for his miracle crusades in over 54 countries was born in a remote poor village of Masooli in central Uganda.

Additional reporting
by Patience Uwitonze
and Cyrus M. Nkusi