House of Prayer Ministries’ lead pastor Aloysius Bugingo, has expressed his vision to establish multiple large-scale churches dubbed “Pentagons” across Uganda.
Speaking in a recent interview, Aloysius Bugingo emphasized the growing demand for bigger worship spaces due to overwhelming attendance at his nationwide congregations.
Aloysius Bugingo noted that many locations were unable to accommodate the large crowds, reinforcing the need for expansion.
His most ambitious project, a mega church complex in Makerere, Kikoni, known as the “Pentagon,” has faced significant delays due to financial constraints. Despite extensive fundraising efforts, construction has yet to begin.
Bugingo remains hopeful that once the Kampala-based Pentagon is completed, similar churches will be built in other regions to better serve his followers.
“You saw what happened in Mbale—the venue was too small for the crowd. Doesn’t Mbale need a Pentagon? In Busoga, the turnout was massive; don’t they deserve one too? And in Fort Portal, it rained heavily, yet the stadium was still packed. Imagine how many more people would have come if it hadn’t rained. Doesn’t Fort Portal need a Pentagon?” Bugingo questioned.
“God should help us complete the first Pentagon.We need more across the country,” he added.
Financial Challenges and Criticism
Recently, Bugingo has faced criticism over delays in constructing the 35,000-seat Pentagon church. He revealed that only Shs3 billion has been raised far below the required Shs30 billion to begin foundational work.
“It’s difficult to start a project of this magnitude with less than a tenth of the necessary funds. Contractors require a 30% deposit, and the money we have so far isn’t even enough to buy the materials for the foundation,” he explained.
His remarks have sparked debate, particularly on social media, with some questioning his approach. Critics have suggested building a temporary structure to shelter congregants from harsh weather.
Bugingo, however, dismissed these suggestions labeling those pushing for temporary solutions as “political enemies” and “barking village dogs.”
He clarified that he had never said the funds were insufficient but rather that he was waiting for financial guarantees to ensure the project’s successful completion.
He further explained that the Pentagon’s foundation requires significant excavation, making it unsuitable for Sunday services during construction. Encouraging his followers to remain committed, Bugingo urged them to continue contributing and to ignore external criticism.
