Though I had read many negative writings about Happy Science and its founder, a god, Master Ryuho Okawa, I still gave them some benefit of doubt and wanted to compare what I had read with what I would experience in his presence. Therefore, after the National Coalition of Concerned Christian Youth Workers press conference at St Francis Community Centre, Makerere, I decided to attend the Namboole Saturday 23 June 2012 lecture, ‘“LIGHT OF NEW HOPE” FOR THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF AFRICA,’ the first in Africa to which the entire public had been invited via massive media adverts, and had caused the National Athletics Team training for this year’s Olympics in the UK to be kicked out of Mandela National Stadium.
I had cancelled my decision because of lack of transport and the entry fee but when my friend, Martin called, offered and mobiled me some money, I dressed up, drew the money from MTN and took a bodaboda from Kawempe to Namboole that by 2.00pm, I was already there.
I went expectant to ‘witness this miraculous moment of Master Ryuho’s visit to Uganda’ as their local website advert said. I was particularly impressed by the statement, ‘His visit will not only create happiness to all Ugandans who are living now but even to those who will be born in the future.’
My arrival led to handshakes and greetings with many people who knew me, some of whom were Okawa’s Happy Science devotees, others members of the very tight uniformed and plain-clothed security forces and others, members of the media fraternity hence delaying my entry into the stadium.
I noted that beside the Pioneer buses that had been publically hired to ferry people from Kampala’s Constitutional Square to Namboole at no cost, many commercial and private buses (coaches), Costas and kamunyes had been hired to ferry in people from all parts of the country as far as Gulu, Mbale and beyond, which meant financial windfalls for their operators.
Of surprise were the many students of different secondary and primary schools that had come dressed in uniforms led by their teachers expecting to learn science. One Deputy Head-teacher of a secondary school in Makindye Division told me he had brought Science Club students for science inspiration by Okawa.
The Director of Studies of a primary school in Nakanyonyi told me he had brought his pupils to be taught science so that they can pass it.
Some of the various school students and pupils I interacted with told me that they had come to learn science so as to pass it well. ‘You know it is difficult,’ one said.
I also interacted with none studying youths and adults who had come expectant to get assorted foods, drinks, money and other items to satisfy their real life needs and be happy and concluded that by 3pm, most had had their expectations drowned. One elderly woman told me; ‘We arrived here at 9am from deep in the village. I had eaten nothing at home and have eaten nothing. I feel I am about to collapse and I have no money. They promised us food and drinks but there is nothing, only Mandazi and Cheers which I don’t take. Now I just want to find where to sleep.’ Unfortunately for her and others, the vehicles that had ferried them could not leave at will. The function had to be concluded first.
My interaction with some of the very many security officers deployed outside the stadium revealed that they were at a loss and just on duty. ‘Pastor,’ one said, ‘You our leaders need to do something. We are also here wondering how so many young people can be ferried from schools as far as Gulu and the deep East. They have targeted the poor and desperate. By 8am, people had already started arriving. We hear he is God. This is how Kibwetere killed people.’
Another security officer said, ‘If he is God, why does he need a convoy of security to protect him!’
Yet another said, ‘These Japanese you see have their own security and communication system which we can’t intercept. They don’t use mobile phones. So you can’t know what they are saying.’
Well, I wish President Museveni, Education Minister Jessica Alupo, Internal Affairs Minister and IGP Kayihura had come and interacted with the people and security personnel incognito.
As I moved closer to the gate, I was intercepted by two Japanese, a man and woman. While the lady declined, the man said he was Ichikawa Kazuhiro, one of the priests in Happy Science based in Japan and both had come a week earlier. ‘We know you already, we read about you in the news,’ the lady said.
‘Even yesterday you held a press conference; we saw you,’ Ichikawa added.
From further interactions, I felt I had opportunity to inquire from the right people what happy Science is all about and who its leader really is since it was their day to market both at Namboole.
Ichikawa said, ‘You don’t understand us. Happy Science combines all religions. It is about happiness. We have twelve million followers all over the world: in America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Okawa is El Cantare: god. He sent Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha and Confucius.’
At this I interjected: ‘I have read a lot about Okawa and Happy Science on the internet. I have come to witness and compare with what I have read.’
‘But you criticize us,’ he said. ‘You are not welcome here. You come to our temple on Rubaga Road.’
‘But why should I come to the temple when I now have opportunity to see and hear from god?’ I questioned. ‘It is the critic who must be proved wrong by what is offered, and here I am!’
They both refused. ‘You first need to understand and love us,’ the lady said.
‘But you don’t love us,’ Ichikawa added.
By now two traffic officers who knew me had joined us. Then I asked Ichikawa, ‘Just tell me: Okawa is god. But from the internet, his wife left him and he said that she got married to Satan. Is what I read true?’
He evaded the question, saying, ‘I don’t know that.’
Deep in my heart I was wondering, if truly Okawa was god, how could have Satan snatched his wife? So when I insisted on my question, he said, ‘President Museveni is married. But can you tell where his wife is?’
The traffic Police officer interjected, ‘Pastor is asking a simple question, whether true or not Okawa’s wife left him and he says she got married to Satan.’
Ichikawa insisted, ‘I cannot answer that. You tell me if you know where President Museveni’s wife is.’
Then he became so offensive and said, ‘Pastor, we have to leave you and enter.’
‘I am also coming in, I already have my ticket.’ I replied.
‘We are sorry, you are not welcome,’ he said and both walked away and entered the gates to the stadium.
The traffic officer said, ‘These people must be hiding something pastor. I am worried they have ferried in many students from hundreds of schools from my observation of groups that have arrived since morning. They have targeted the weak minded and don’t want sharp people like you.’
I had arranged with Yusuf to meet me at the stadium and when he came, I assigned him to look out for names of schools whose students had come and why.
Toward 4pm, I decided it was time to enter the stadium. Immediately after entering the gate but before the security check point, I was called aside by a Mobile Police Patrol (MPP) man without a name tag on his uniform. ‘We have instructions not to allow you into the stadium,’ he said.
I was surprised. I never knew that I could be turned away from such an opportunity to see and hear from the god incarnate. When I asked him why, he said, ‘I don’t know.’ When I asked him who had given the instructions, he told me, ‘The DPC.’ When I sought to speak to the DPC, he left me standing and entered the security unit where I followed him and found a one star MPP officer without a nametag too.
‘Pastor, we have instructions from the DPC not to let you in,’ the officer said. He still couldn’t tell me the reason. When I sought to know which DPC and his contact, he simply said, DPC Kira but declined to give me his contact.
At that point I decided to part with Yusuf, assigned him to get in and do some observations for me.
I camped in the security house at the gate wondering, how I, unarmed, poor and insignificant Male could be in any way be a threat to the almighty El Cantare (god incarnate) Ryuho Okawa and his stinking rich and numerically strong Happy Science to deserve being locked out of the great Namboole event!
Within the unit, I asked the Police officers, why, if the group was really genuine, it feared small, harmless ‘critics’ like me to get closer and understand it.
At 4.15, I received a call from Rodney, a journalist inquiring about Happy Science and I told him I had just been barred from entering the stadium. He was far away and said he would call me later.
Realizing that the Policemen were not ready to let me in, I called the Police spokesman, Asuman Mugenyi. His aide said he was busy in a meeting.
A few moments after the call, four plain clothed officers came and told me they had instructions to tell me to leave the stadium or be arrested. I told them that if they arrested me, both the Police and Happy Science would be greatly embarrassed. ‘I am not a politician and don’t want to show off or I would remain, you arrest me and be embarrassed. They left telling me that others would come to arrest me.
About twenty minutes later, a two star Police officer, Nakola advised me to leave amid a drizzle though I had already decided to leave and go to Kireka for airtime, then comfortably communicate. In Kireka, when in a supermarket for airtime is when I realized that another friend had already sent me airtime on request.
It was about 5.12pm and raining heavily when I called the IGP Kale Kayihura about my predicament. His personal assistant received it, listened to my complaint, promised to notify his boss and request him to call back.
A lady who overheard my conversation gave me the DPC Kira’s name and number, as Mission, 0777318593. When I called him at about 5.26pm, he said he had blocked me because of Happy Science’s complaint that I was part of those who criticized them at the press conference. When I told him that he couldn’t use that to bar me given the background of people perishing in the Kanungu cult on March 17 2000, he said Police didn’t want insecurity to happen. When I told him that President Museveni is criticized everyday but he even invites and shakes hands with his critics at his functions, and also asked why they termed the lecture a public one when I couldn’t be permitted. He switched off his phone.
When at about 5.51pm I called and explained my situation to Hon Fr Lokodo, Minister of State, Ethics & Integrity, he said there was nothing he could do to get me into the stadium.
When I finally called and got the Police spokesman, Asuman Mugenyi at 5.59pm, he told me after talking to the DPC that he couldn’t change his decision and for the sake of my safety. I told him to avail me Police protection if they feared for my life so that I attend the event in vain. He said Police would be blamed if I got hurt.
At about 6pm, I gave up pursuit of god Okawa and his lecture, “LIGHT OF NEW HOPE” FOR THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF AFRICA.’ I had gone to Namboole very expectant but left very disappointed that a god, El Cantare Ryuho Okawa, his army of Happy Science followers and their immense financial muscle could be scared of me, a mortal, powerless, poor and small Moses Solomon Male to warrant my being declared persona non grata at their Nambole stadium public event. The ticket I had proved useless and may probably serve as souvenir.
I finally linked up with Yusuf who was equally disappointed and we boarded bodaboda back to Kampala wondering how fearful the group is. On the assignment I had given him, he had only written a few names. He said many schools had their students cover their badges.
I just hope that if El Cantare, god Ryuho Okawa is really the Almighty God as he claims, then he understands that I really want to know and understand him and he shouldn’t be angry with or afraid of me. Otherwise, I don’t think I am wrong to believe what I have read on the internet that he is a sham god and his Happy Science a manipulative cult and con-job targeting the vulnerable worldwide, that he needs to be protected by state machineries from those questioning like me.
The author is the Executive Director, Arising For Christ
msmalearcg@gmail.com 0772479386
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