In Makerere – Kikoni, Kampala, lies a big plot of land known as ‘Canaan Land’ that has been one of Uganda’s most ambitious religious projects: the Pentagon Church, planned by Pastor Aloysius Bujjingo of House of Prayer Ministries International.
For over a decade, this mega-church has existed as a dream and a promise, with lots of fundraising, public scrutiny, and an ever-escalating price tag. As of April 2025, Bujjingo revealed that the project now requires UGX 120 billion.
The seeds of the Pentagon Church were sown around 2015, when Pastor Bujjingo began sharing his vision for a state-of-the-art worship center. At the time, his House of Prayer Ministries was rapidly growing, housing thousands under tents at Canaan Land. The need for a permanent structure was evident, as congregants endured rain, dust, and heat.
Bujjingo’s announcement was met with enthusiasm, and fundraising campaigns kicked off with a promise to create a big church that would rival Africa’s greatest religious complexes. By 2018, the project gained momentum. In a publicised YouTube video, Bujjingo unveiled plans for a UGX 70 billion ($20 billion) church complex, boasting a 380-seat main hall, soundproof features, a food court, a business center, and parking for 1,000 vehicles.
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The name “Pentagon” was chosen to symbolize strength. Congregants were urged to contribute, with some donating their savings in faith, while others criticized the lack of visible progress despite years of collections.
As the years progressed, the Pentagon Church remained a blueprint, with no foundation laid. In 2019, Bujjingo estimated the project’s cost at UGX 100 billion, citing rising construction expenses. Fundraising efforts intensified, with the pastor leveraging his Salt Media Group platforms to rally support.
He introduced innovative donation methods, including mobile money accounts tagged for church construction, and shared stories of personal sacrifice to inspire giving.
Critics, including former church members, accused Bujjingo of mismanaging funds, pointing to his personal controversies, such as his publicised divorce from Teddy Naluswa and marriage to Susan Makula, as evidence of misplaced priorities.
A 2022 petition by the Concerned Citizens for Religious Morality claimed that billions raised for the Pentagon had been diverted, leaving congregants worshiping in tents. Bujjingo countered these allegations, insisting that every shilling was accounted for and that the project’s scale demanded patience.
In December 2022, Bujjingo announced that construction would begin in July 2023, provided UGX 100 billion was raised by June 30. He described the Pentagon as “the biggest church entity in Africa,” promising a parking yard for 800 cars and recreational facilities.
However, the deadline passed without a groundbreaking ceremony, and the pastor faced renewed criticism.
The years 2023 and 2024 were challenging for Bujjingo. In January 2024, he survived an assassination attempt that claimed the life of his bodyguard, Cpl Richard Muhumuza. Returning to the pulpit, Bujjingo vowed to honor Muhumuza by naming a conference hall in the Pentagon after him and restarting construction that year.
Contributions surged, but the project remained stalled. Bujjingo’s resilience was tested by ongoing legal battles over his marriage and public disputes with other Pentecostal leaders, who distanced themselves from his ministry. Despite these challenges, he maintained that the Pentagon was God’s work, not his own, and that divine timing would bring it to fruition.
In March 2025, Bujjingo delivered a renewed update to his congregation: the Pentagon Church now requires UGX 120 billion to commence construction.
Speaking during one of the sermons, he explained that inflation and rising material costs had pushed the budget beyond the 2019 estimate of UGX 100 billion.
“The money we have raised so far can’t even bring materials to the site,” he admitted.
Bujjingo also outlined plans to build multiple Pentagons across Uganda, starting with the flagship in Kampala. He cited overwhelming turnout at his regional gatherings in Mbale and Busoga as evidence of the need for larger worship spaces nationwide.
As of now, the tents at Canaan Land continue to shelter a congregation waiting for their promised sanctuary.
