By Kato Mivule | May 4, 2009
I have been following the Sodomy allegations brought against a number of Evangelical Pastors in Uganda and I am amazed at the lack of concern for Justice towards the Victims of Sexual Abuse in these cases. Children and teenagers have been sodomized and the pedophiles walk free while justice is denied to the abused minors, and this is happening inside Uganda’s Evangelical Church.
The victims of these sexual abuses who happen to be young boys have been verified by Medical Doctors and with concrete evidence presented beyond reasonable doubt that someone committed a sexual offense against them – a sexual crime was committed.
Why is the Ugandan Police getting cold feet?
It is important to note that was none consensual sex done to the young boys – minors against their wish. Therefore the Ugandan Police should thoroughly investigate these cases as hardcore Crime Cases. Medical Reports prove that someone sodomized the young boys and therefore Police has the duty to investigate to bring those who committed the crime to justice. In some of Uganda’s Media reports, some abused boys are seeking medical help as it is reported that they were so badly injured in that internal body parts are protruding from their behinds.
Yet astonishing is that the Ugandan Police has instead resorted to investigating fake counter allegations by one of the accused Child Abusers, Pastor Robert Kayanja, claiming that Pastor Michael Kyazze (one of the Pastors seeking Justice for the abused boys) kidnapped one of Pastor Kayanja’s aides. The aide claims that he was promised 100,000 US Dollars if he made confessions that Kayanja sodomized him. These are just simple Theatrics by Pastor Robert Kayanja to divert attention away from a Sodomy police case filed against him. Pastor Solomon Male (another Pastor seeking Justice for the abused boys and working with Pastor Michael Kyazze) in his press briefing referred to Pastor Kayanja’s Theatrical allegations as “Miracle-wood” reminiscent of Nollywood – Nigeria’s Hollywood version of Film Producing companies.
There is no way Pastor Michael Kyazze and Pastor Solomon Male can afford 100,000 US Dollars, I happen to know both men who live basically poor lives and not the flamboyant Prosperity Gospel Kayanja lifestyle. For one, Pastor Solomon Male does not even own a bicycle, the man walks on his two feet allover the place yet Pastor Kayanja alleges that such could afford 100,000 US Dollars…
Yet still Pastor Kayanja owns a special security detail with attachments to the State House – Uganda’s version of White House. Why is Pastor Kayanja, an innocent man moving around with Bodyguards with attachments to President Museveni’s Presidential Protection Unit?
We must remember that sexual crimes were committed here against young boys who happened to be around Pastor Robert Kayanja, Pastor Isaac Kiwewesi, and Pastor Grace Kitaka. The Doctors prove that the boys where sodomized and therefore a criminal act was done and at least investigative justice must prevail. If the boys allege it was Kayanja and they lived in his domain, why not allow to be investigated at least to let the investigations clear his name? Why is Pastor Robert Kayanja thwarting all efforts into a preliminary investigation into acts of Sodomy in Uganda’s Evangelical Church? Is Pastor Robert Kayanja above the Law? All theatrical efforts by Pastor Robert Kayanja to counter sue and counter accuse simply paint a picture of one attempting to obstruct Justice.
The Role of Uganda’s Media…
Secondly, one wonders the role that the Ugandan Press is playing is this entire Sodomy saga. Stories about Sexual Abuse of Minors in Uganda’s Evangelical Church have largely been avoided. Instead Ugandan Press and Media have engaged in sensational reporting of how Evangelical Church leaders are fighting against each other.
The focus of the story is lost and Ugandan Evangelical Christians get into emotionalism of “don’t touch God’s anointed” while a crime goes unchecked and the victims of the sexual abuse inside the evangelical Church receive no justice.
One could rightly say that Ugandan Media Outlets have thrown aside their investigative sensibilities and are totally doing a disservice to the Ugandan community and victims of sexual abuse in Uganda. It was only Daily Monitor in July of 2007 that published an Investigative story of the Sodomy case against Pastor Grace Kitaka that led to the resignation of Pastor Grace Kitaka. New Vision, Bukedde, Weekly Observer, and the Independent have all to do any investigative work about sexual crimes committed against minors in Uganda’s Evangelical Churches. This is a shame and Uganda’s Media had better do their job because the next victim of sexual abuse and sodomy might be their own children.
Uganda’s Media should learn from the USA Media and how they investigated Child Sexual Abuse in the Boston Catholic Church, leading to the Catholic Church paying millions of dollars to the victims; not forgetting the Ted Haggard – head of America’s Born Again Churches, story that led to his resignation yet in Ted Haggard’s case was simply Homosexual relationships and not Sexual abuse of Minors.
An Investigation should be launched…
Even though Ugandans are cynical about Commissions of Inquiry and Truth, it would serve Pastor Robert Kayanja, Pastor Grace Kitaka, and Pastor Isaac Kiwewesi well to submit to such a Commission and at least give Justice due course. In any case Justice serves both the accused and the victim, to exonerate or indict.
The Pastors who have been accused in many of these cases seem to be more concerned about protecting their image, riches, wealth, and mega churches than the welfare of the victims who are involved. Pastor Kayanja has been threatening to sue his accusers and even sue the Media Houses involved. However, this is of no help to him as it will be interpreted as an Obstruction of Justice, a far more heinous accusation.
Christians in Uganda must put their emotions aside and know that some young boys have been sexually abused and the sex was none consensual and those who committed the crimes must be brought to justice. Christians in Uganda must learn to be Law abiding and not hide the perpetuators of Child Sexual Crimes and Pedophilia in the name of “The Man of God”; if they do so, it would mean they are accomplices in crime. Sexual Crimes have been committed against minors inside Uganda’s Evangelical and let there be an Investigation.
Kato Mivule
Religious Blogger
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MEDIA TRANSACTIONS ON SODOMY ALLEGATIONS INSIDE UGANDA'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH
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Security agencies to investigate pastors’ wrangling
Risdel Kasasira |Kampala
Police and internal security organizations have started investigations into wrangles between pastors of Pentecostal churches.
The police is now investigating circumstances over which an aide of Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Center was kidnapped.
The rift between the pastors climaxed on April 18 when armed gangs allegedly kidnapped and tortured Chris Muwonge, Mr Kayanja’s personal aide for five days and later dumped him at his boss’s home in Gaba.
The police Spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba said, “police has some information about these wrangles and we have good leads we are following on the kidnap,” she said.
She also said they are investigating Pastor Bob Kayiira from Omega Healing Center who was arrested two weeks ago at Miracle Center with a laptop trying to hack into information system of the Miracle Center.
“The pastor gave a statement and the investigations are almost complete. We have forwarded his file to Resident State Attorney to sanction charges. He will be charged with attempting to commit felony and trespass,” Nabakooba said yesterday.
According to Internal security sources, they are also investigating threatening phone messages sent to Mr. Muwonge after he refused to tell his captors that pastor Kayanja is homosexual.
Mr. Kayanja has blamed his latest woes on intrigue and malice that has been going on in the Pentecostal churches.
He has accused Pastor Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Center of being behind the ploy to tarnish his image. Mr. Kyazze has denied such allegations and said they were just rumors.
Mr. Muwonge said he had been abducted by armed men on the morning of April 18, while returning from overnight prayers, and held for five days.
Mr. Muwonge said his captors tried “to force him to lie” that Pastor Kayanja has been sodomising children at his church.
Daily Monitor, May 4, 2009: Security agencies to investigate pastors’ wrangling
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Security_agencies_to_investigate_pastors_wrangling_84263.shtml
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English Version: Pastor Solomon Male's Press Conference Requesting Authorities to Investigate Crimes of Sodomy aganist minors in Ugandan Evangelical Churches
Munoonyereze ku Basumba- Male
Written by Meddie Musisi | Sunday, 03 May 2009 20:54
OMUSUMBA Solomon Male asabye Gavumenti esseewo akakiiko kanoonyereze ku Basumba abagambibwa okukola ebikolobero ku bagoberezi baabwe.
“Tetwagala Gavumenti erowooze nti bino ebintu bya kusaaga. Abamu ku ffe obulamu bwaffe buli mu kutiisibwatiisa n’olwekyo tusaba Gavumenti esseewo akakiiko katunoonyerezeeko ffenna,” Male bwe yagambye.
Okwogera bino Male yabadde mu lukungaana lwa bannamawulire lwe yatuuzizza ku Lwokuna ku Nomo Gallery e Nakasero.
Male yagambye nti Abasumba aboogerwako okukola ebikolobero ku bagoberezi baabwe bagagga nnyo abalina obusobozi bwonna okulinnya eggere mu nteekateeka ye ey’okubalwanyisa nti n’olwekyo asaba ayambibweko Gavumenti.
Mu lukung’aana luno, Male yaleese Omusumba Bob Kayiira alumiriza nti yatulugunyizibwa abayambi b’Omusumba Robert Kayanja kyokka n’atayogera kintu kyonna ng’agamba nti ensonga azitwala mu kkooti.
Mu lukiiko lw’abannamawulire olulala olwatuuziddwa Mondo Mugisha naye yeeyita Omusumba atalina kkanisa, yagambye nti ebigambo byonna Male by’ayogera tebirina makulu kubanga waliwo abamuteekamu ensimbi asaanyewo kkanisa y’Abalokole.
Bukedde, May 3, 2009:Munoonyereze ku Basumba- Male
http://www.bukedde.co.ug/index.php/amawulire/ageggwanga/5539-munoonyereze-ku-basumba-male-.html
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Why should pastors fight one another?
Sunday, 3rd May, 2009 | Omilia Moses
LATELY there have been rumours, accusations, counter accusations, confessions and press reports about homosexuality in the church in Uganda especially the Pentecostal churches in Kampala.
Some Christian leaders have spoken out to condemn the alleged practice. Others have come out to accuse their counterparts of complacency and as a result there has arisen animosity between some Christian leaders, that is headed for scandalous proportions if not nipped in the bud.
What started as an outcry against homosexuality seems to have degenerated into a fight for power, popularity and prominence through a smear campaign between the “big men of God.”
It is not clear what the squabbles are about, but one thing is certain the name of Christ is being blasphemed.
I wonder if the squabbling pastors give any prior thought to their decisions before going to the press with accusations and misdeeds of others.
Pastors cannot please God with their press addresses, they need to recall some of the sermons they have been preaching to their congregations. The Bible teaches us not to accuse one another and has many examples of strife caused by envy but the good news is that God has a way out of it for Christians.
The squabbling leaders ought to renounce clamour for the limelight or whatever is not of God, repent and return to their rightful place in Christ.
Leaders cannot be both jealous and efficient — for jealousy and selfish ambition are the root cause of evil (James 3:16).
And for the Church to withstand the storm, pastors ought to learn to love and forgive each other. Galatians 5:19-25 and James 3:13-18, for wrath kills a foolish man — Job 5:2.
It is important that Christians understand that they have a common enemy — the devil.
The Church needs unity to withstand the storms of life.
The writer is Vision Group’s regional marketing officer - Northern Region
New Vision, May 3, 2009:Why should pastors fight one another?
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/680084
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Kayanja is an upright person
Sunday, 3rd May, 2009
EDITOR—I am one of the spiritual sons of Pastor Robert and Jessica Kayanja. I joined Miracle Centre Church in 1993 when I was a student at Makerere University and I have worked under them since 1995. I would like to categorically state that none of the allegations against Pastor Kayanja have any truth in them.
He has never sexually harassed anybody because I have known him as a very morally upright person, who is pure in his motives, a man of integrity who is a loving father, committed to his wife, family and country. He has done a lot of good for the body of Christ and without him, many of us wouldn't be who we are today.
Shame on whoever may be struggling to ruin his name. Kayanja stands as a goodwill ambassador for Uganda, a statesman and above all, a gospel ambassador of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose fruits of ministry are evident all over this country.
We love and esteem Pastor Robert Kayanja and his wife Jessica. We stand for the values they stand for, and they are a blessing to our country.
Pastor Robert Nabulere
Miracle Centre Kawempe
New Vision, May 3, 2009: Kayanja is an upright person
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/680080
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Kayanja to sue over homo allegations
By Vision Reporter
THE rift between rival pastors of Pentecostal churches in Kampala deepens as Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre has threatened to sue clerics who accuse him of homosexual activities.
Pastor Michael Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre and Pastor Solomon Male of Arising for Christ, who are at the forefront of a campaign to fight homosexuality in Pentecostal churches, have pointed a finger at Pastor Kayanja.
Sunday Vision, May 2, 2009:Kayanja to sue over homo allegations
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=680018
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Alarm Bells
Pr Kayanja should help Babies’ homes
I would request Pastor Kayanja to help renovate Sanyu Babies / Tooro Babies Home instead of assisting the police. He can even do better by helping the elderly. Once you help the police people may think you are trying to cover up something
Arthur Omupanyarwa
Daily Monitor, May 3, 2009: Letters: Pr Kayanja should help Babies’ homes
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/sun_letters/Reinstall_Ambassador_Onen_to_EAC_Secretariat_84198.shtml
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Are churches losing it?
In the recent past, many scandals have rocked churches and all them together raise questions as to whether the church is a place where the world can find hope!
Cases of homosexuality have continued to cause an unending fracas, denting the church’s moral fibre. In the lime light now is Pr Kayanja accusing Pr Michael Kyaze of Omega Healing Centre of defamation.
Homosexuality in church irrespective of denomination, needs to be seriously tackled by all the stakeholders or else we are grooming a Pharisee-like generation of leaders whose sermons are mouth-deep and not heart-deep.
I also would like to ask the Catholic Church to tell us how far they have gone with Fr Musaala’s case.
Balugiire Ronald,
Kampala
Daily Monitor, May 3, 2009: Letters: Are churches losing it?
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/sun_letters/Reinstall_Ambassador_Onen_to_EAC_Secretariat_84198.shtml
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EVIDENCE: Kayanja Releases CCTV Footage To Pin Kayiira
As the feud between Rubaga Miracle Center (RMC)’s Pastor Robert Kayanja and Omega Healing Center (OHC)’s Pastor Robert Kayiira takes form, more intriguing details have emerged.
Video and pictorial evidence have been induced to pin Kayiira with malicious propaganda.
And this has washed away the claim by omega church pastoral team that the whole fiasco was stage managed.
Pastor Kayiira was recently cornered in Kayanja’s compound at RMC where he had connived with one of the church youth members, Herbert Tumukunde, 17, to obtain for him, information pinning his boss in homosexual acts. He was arrested with a laptop which he purportedly wanted to pick the ‘sensitive’ information. His arrest however, sparked contradictory claims from fellow Pastors led by Evangelist Moses Solomon Male, who claimed that Kayiira’s arrest had been stage managed in a bid to frustrate their ‘patriotic’ move on homosexuality. Kayiira, on arrest told police that he had been delegated by his boss Pastor Michael Kyazze who is currently out of the country. However, in order to have Kayiira pinned, Kayanja’s legal team has started implementing their boss’ orders to avail pinning evidence to police. They claim that Kayiira’s moves have been followed not only at the RMC but also in posh places he has been meeting the boy. One of such places is Garden City where CCTV cameras captured them in a close to two hour meeting on April 14, 2009. “True, they have filed some pictorial evidence with us and we shall use them accordingly,” Police publicist Judith Nabakooba confirmed last evening. Among other photos which Red Pepper chanced a glance, is of another lady, Anita Deborah Kyomuhendo, also Male’s team members, who was pictured with some of Kayanja’s many boys at Normal Gallery in Nakasero on Easter purportedly luring them into the same angle of pinning their pastor.
Yesterday in these pages, Kayanja using the term “The Game Is Over’, revealed that plans are done to have his ‘enemies’ dance to the tune of the law and that he had gathered enough evidence to take them on. However, the defiant and determined Male said he is not moved and would not fear to face the law, claiming he has enough evidence as well. Watch this space.
Red Pepper, May 1, 2009: Evidence: Kayanja Releases CCTV Footage To Pin Kayiira
http://redpepper.ug/details.php?item=1407&&CatId=1
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Pastor Kayanja Gives Press Interview to Uganda's Tabloid Magazine
Kayanja Reveals His Homo Secrets
Pastor Robert Kayanja talks to Red Pepper at his office on Monday.
“At one time, Pastor Male shamelessly said that I had sodomised a boy so badly and that when he went to the toilet, his intestines fell out! Can you imagine? But he fell short of explaining who treated the boy and how he came out of the toilet in that condition.” These are words of Pastor Robert Kayanja while giving an exclusive interview to the Red Pepper on Monday evening.
In what looks like a move to end the bum shafting speculations against him, Pastor Kayanja has finally opened the lid and condemned the vice, saying it is not only God forbidden and inhuman but also a sure way of contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS virus and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Kayanja has also threatened to drag to court his fellow pastors, led by Moses Solomon Male and Pastor Michael Kyazze of Omega healing Center along Entebbe road, who he claims have for years through the media, described him as someone who not only supports but practices the rear cruise vice.
“I am a son of a Reverend and I was brought up in a strong Christian family.
There is no stage in my life that I faced anything that would lead me to engage in such ungodly acts. I am a priest and there is no way I can be one of them (homosexuals),” Kayanja said in a two hour long exclusive interview with this Reporter at Rubaga Miracle Centre, Monday evening.
Wondering why Red Pepper had taken long to write about his (homosexuality) rumor which has existed for over two years, Kayanja said; “The game is over and I have instructed my lawyers to take action.”
He said he had opted to take a low profile hoping that his enemies would eventually get tired but that he was ‘awakened’ by the recent incidents where his special Aide Chris Muwonge was kidnapped, and another where Kyazze’s Assistant, Bob Kayiira got arrested from his (Kayanja) territory.
“I felt they had taken their ‘game’ a bit far and fortunatelynately enough, my concerned legal assistants had all along recorded their defamatory statements on various radios.
This is some of the evidence we are going to use in taking them on,” Kayanja said, adding that even the hosting electronic media houses would be sued. Kayanja further revealed that some of his many boys at the church have been harassed and assaulted by strangers who kidnap them and promise them heaven on earth if only they can pin him in the dirty act. “I don’t know whether they (Males) are aware that some boys have confessed and deposited with police, the money they were given to pin me,” he said.
The Truth
Admitting that homosexuality is taking a toll on Ugandan young generation, Pastor Kayanja said he does not support it and that he is among the many religious leaders, who in the eighties campaigned against it along with HIV/Aids. “We used to have crusades preaching against homosexuality and HIV. He said homosexuality is a big force behind HIV spread. He doubted whether the practitioners use any protective means. “We have 52 Sundays in a year and here (Rubaga Miracle Center), we program them accordingly. There are Sundays when homosexuality, extramarital relationships and other social teachings are on our ‘menu’ and indeed one of such was last Sundays. But the problem is our critics do not visit the church and hence they depend on speculations,” Kayanja said sodomy and premarital sex always takes a center stage in the ministry’s youth seminars. Kayanja also said that his church was represented in the recently organized anti-gay/homosexuality match in the city center. He said one of the organizers, Pastor Steven Langa was invited at the church to mobilize the faithfuls for the do and they indeed responded in big numbers by penning their signatures to the petition. “So, I don’t know why I am these people’s soft target. Is it because I am a busy man who never responds to trivial issues? I think they have ridiculed me to the marrow, it’s time to take action and they will indeed have it in full,” Kayanja warned.
Kayanja The Man
Born on January 24, 1962 in a family of 13, Pastor Robert Kayanja got saved at the age of 17. A young brother of the current Anglican Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu, he started the Miracle Centre Ministry which has now spread to 66 nations. Today he is also overseer of the Miracle Bible College, The Never Again Children’s project and two orphanages in Kapeeka and Burundi. He features on a weekly Miracle Life Television programmes on Lighthouse and Daystar Television networks. The church has also founded over 1,000 Miracle Centre Churches across the country. He has traveled to over 50 other countries to preach the Christian gospel.
The soft spoken and arguably very humble man of God, Kayanja is happily married to Jessica, and they are blessed with three children.
One For The Road
Seeing this Reporter off, Pastor Kayanja called upon people to be patriotic. “Patriotism does not stop with loving your country but other people as well.
If we loved each other, you wouldn’t be here asking about the bad blood between me and people supposed to be my brothers.
Red Pepper, May 3, 2009: Kayanja Reveals His Homo Secrets
http://redpepper.ug/details.php?item=1378&PHPSESSID=67baf331c4390be7256ef6e91c903e0f
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Ugandan Tabloid Reports that Pastor Kayanja Rebukes Paliament
Kayanja Raps MPs Over His Police Offer
Pastor Robert Kayanja has squarely hit back at Members of Parliament who criticized his generosity towards police. He described his detractors as heartless and selfish.Kayanja recently handed over to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Maj. Gen Kale Kayihura, a fully rehabilitated housing block at Old Kampala police barracks, estimated to have cost over Shs70m.
However, the seemingly Samaritan act met a lot of criticism from mainly some members of Parliament probing police. The soft speaking Kayanja, in an exclusive interview with Red Pepper last evening, wondered whether some MPs are “worth representing their needy constituents!” He said most police officers are too credit crunched to even meet their lunch costs, on top of sleeping in very sorry state structures.
“In the (Justice) Ssebutinde report, it was recommended that a police constable should at least earn Shs600, 000 as salary but the MPs who get more than Shs7m have ignored it yet when they are in trouble, they call police! What kind of insensitive people are these?” Kayanja wondered, adding that even if they are politicians, time for politicizing every issue should stop.
Kayanja, who said he is a regular visitor to police because of his personal attachment to it, and of course pastoral work, said he would not stand the sight of four families occupying one room at Old Kampala. “My late sister was married to a former IGP, Apollo Byekwaso who was murdered some eight years ago and I remained with their kids. I have a personal attachment with police and feel like helping
them whenever am in position,” explained Kayanja.
Red Pepper, May 3, 2009: Kayanja Raps MPs Over His Police Offer
http://redpepper.ug/details.php?item=1388
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No need to wash dirty linen in public
Tuesday, 28th April, 2009
EDITOR—It is a shame that pastors are bickering in public! How can the public read about ‘rival Pentecostal churches’?
Are they in a contest and if so, what for? You are supposed to be an example to your flock but instead you are preaching what you are not practising! Both Pastor Robert Kayanja and Michael Kyazze are making fools of themselves. If they have diffferences, the best thing to do is to resolve them amicably and not wash dirty linen in public. We are tired of pastors drama.
They are demonstrating that they are actually after fame and money and not after preaching the love of God! Love your neighbour as you love yourself, that is what the Bible tells us. Pastor Kyazze, if Pastor Kayanja did something to you, do not revenge.
The same applies to Pastor Kayanja. That is what love means. Revenge does not belong to you. Read your Bible for guidance on how to react in these tough times.
Damalie Zalwango
Kampala
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EDITOR—I have read your story, “CID probes kidnap of Kayanja’s aide” published on Monday. I don’t know who is telling the truth and who is not. However, it is surprising that such dirt should be associated with religious
leaders!
Name withheld
New Vision, April 28, 2009: No need to wash dirty linen in public
http://newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/679539
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