Prophet Elvis Mbonye is soft spoken; you would be surprised that this man has drawn a crowd of Kampala’s crème de la creme to a session with him every Tuesday night since 2014. While presiding over his Zoe Fellowship, Mbonye is unreachable, with a coterie of security guards. However, at the Serena poolside, he is affable, though seemingly hurried.
This article was published in the Daily Monitor, January 2017 about Prophet Mbonye’s ministry.
“Not anyone can call themselves a prophet,” he says to my question about why he calls himself such, adding, “There have to be signs that validate that calling. In 1998, I was called by God in a supernatural encounter witnessed by my sisters. I got saved and I immediately spoke in tongues. I had a vision of God calling me to be a prophet.”
The next day, the Makerere University student of Development Studies had supernatural knowledge about friends and family, however, it would be two years before God appeared to him again. “I attended Victory City Church, Kitintale where the pastor and elders noticed my gift and put me in leadership. After campus, I had a job offer but after fasting and praying for three days, the Lord showed me my destiny as a prophet.”
From then on, it was a lonely life of praying on hills and deserted houses, and having a supernatural meal every day. His first international prophecy was the 2004 Tsunami. Many argue that in these times of economic strife, Mbonye’s prophecies are immaterial. However, he counters it saying, “If you are negative, forget about the good that comes from anything. Some of these prophecies are signs that it is the Spirit talking. If you believe, you will benefit from the entire spiritual package the prophet brings. Once you believe, supernatural forces take charge of your life – what some people call luck or fortune. The Bible tells you to believe your God and you shall be established; believe His prophets and you shall prosper.”
The uncertain world of prophecies
For 2017, most of his prophecies are dire, but he is quick to say God never intends evil to happen, so he always prays against bad prophecies. “Some change and the effects are not so adverse. However, it is a mystery to me why even after praying against them, many of those prophecies actually happen.”
Indeed, he agrees there are times when he misinterprets the messages. “Prophecies come on different levels and there are some which did not play out the way I said they would. The truth is that the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. I may be in favour of an event happening, so I subject the spirit of prophecy to my desires.”
On whether these misinterpreted prophecies give him a bad image, Mbonye says, “There is nothing that paints a bad picture of me because, I do not care about man’s opinion. I have seen God and I will be answerable to Him. I do not get into people’s faces; they come to me.”
The most sought after time is the Point of Contact session where people bring passports, CVs, court documents, and medical forms, so that Mbonye can lay his hands on them. “I’m not a pastor that I should frequently be with the sheep. As a prophet I decree the final thing.”
His expensive lifestyle
Prosperity pastors preach and live the prosperity gospel, but Mbonye takes it to another level. Every week, Zoe Fellowship spends Shs54m on the venue, tents, stage, and lighting. He drives a BMW X6 and his dress style is expensive; his gold ring looks worth five months rent of a house in good neighbourhood.
“This past week, the Lord showed me hell again and the people who went there,” the Arsenal fan says, adding, “Hell is stuffy, poor, sickly, and degrading. I have been to heaven and it is a glamorous place with streets of gold. All attributes about God are glamour and beauty and I’m of God, so I will unapologetically be always on the side of what is rich. I have heard shallow debates where politicians defend themselves for being in air-conditioned cars. You want me to be in a car where I sweat? (He laughs).”
Mbonye mocks the culture that demonises wealth and exalts everything broke. Four months ago, he was criticised for a pledge card his team released which had Shs200,000 as the lowest amount one could pledge. “I do not design my pledge cards,” he says unabashedly, “Most of the time I do not know what my staff is doing. I only show up to minister, but I’m in agreement with what they do. I do not answer to people who talk about me yet they know nothing about me.”
He adds that there are over 7,000 people in Zoe Fellowship, so the criticism of a few will be swallowed up. “It is like the president being concerned that a bodaboda man is complaining about how the government is run.”
I remind him that considering the minority is the gist of democracy, but he says, “The Scripture does not favour democracy. Those who are close to me know I always check things to find out if they fit the pattern we received from heaven. I know this will not go down well with this politically correct society, but I only relate to hearing the Spirit.”
Deciphering the political scene
The prophet says he predicted the 2012 UPDF chopper crash and reached out to UPDF officials, who ignored him. “From that time, government officials attend the fellowships and many approach me for guidance.”
He is hesitant to talk about the political future. When I press him, he says, “I would not want to propagate anxiety, although … what I can say is that what is coming is setting the stage for what no will of man can stop. Man can only fight so much. Let me stop there.”
Challenges of being a prophet
The man who once bordered on atheism would have preferred a freer life, but he cannot sit in one place without being accosted by people. “The best part of being a prophet, though, is the experiences I get every night, to the level of accessing the very Throne of God once in a while. I cannot trade that for anything.”
Mbonye does not credit any Ugandan pastor with mentoring him, saying he was mentored through the books of Kenneth Hagin and he only respects Rick Joyner and the late Kim Clement.”
The 40-year-old prophet, who loves comedies and detective thrillers, is expecting his first child. When I ask if it is right for him to watch secular movies, he tells me God is not limited to the opinions of men. “That traditional mentality has really messed up the Church.”
Attending Zoe fellowship
By 4pm, the 5,000-seater tent is filled a quarter way as adherents and the curious trickle into Kololo Independence Grounds for the much-billed 2017 prophecies to be unveiled. On each white plastic chair are two envelopes. A courteous usher in a blue skirt, checkered top and high heels, tells me the plain white envelope is for the normal offertory. “You cannot enter the House of God empty-handed. The second envelope is for the prophetic offering. After the prophet has prophesied, you must make an offering so that you can walk into the prophecy.”
At the front of the tent, below a stage put up by Silk Events, the area is carpeted. The white fur rug on which the prophet rests his feet when he is seated is neatly folded in a chair. People are still streaming in. For every two men, there are 15 women. All show a picture of middleclass; the women are young and stylish, although there are a few strugglers. At the back, sits a hungry middle-aged woman staring morosely at those walking in. “I came here at midday, walking from Nakawa to Kololo. I’m thirsty and hungry and there is no food at home.” This woman has been attending the Fellowship since 2014 and, according to her, the prophet has prophesied over her life many times but none of the prophecies have come to pass. “I still have faith. That is why I keep coming.”
Three giggly women walk by us. Evelyn Kisambira is anticipating a prophecy and an encounter with God. “My cousin tells me there is a presence here and I hope to feel it,” she says. Her sister Jacky wants to meet God and feel the ‘fire’. “If Prophet Mbonye calls my name and prophesies about me, I will believe him.” Stella Namirimu, a banking officer, expects a promotion this year.
At 6pm, an energetic praise session gets underway in the full tent, and 50 minutes later, there is frenzied activity at one of the entrances, with the ushers directing people to other entrances. Four men in charcoal black suits stand a few feet away, one of them wearing a white covert acoustic tube in his ear. In the gathering dusk, at 7.07pm, a three-car motorcade drives through the upper gate of Kololo. The ushers cheer and jump. The cars stop near the entrance and immediately five bodyguards, who include a woman, jump out of the first car and stand near the second car – a BMW X6 whose personalised plates read ‘ELVIS’. A man jumps out of that car and opens the passenger door. Mbonye steps out and walks straight into the tent followed by his security, without acknowledging the cheering ushers.
Dressed in black slacks, red coat trimmed in black velvet, and black patent leather shoes, he walks up and down the aisle in prayer, closely followed by his guards. People are fervently in prayer as the choir sings Roy Fields’ In the presence of angels; some stand. Occasionally, puffs of white smoke rise from smoke machines. Big screens project his image to those at the back.
As he begins speaking, Mbonye keeps referring to a small notebook in which “are over 50 prophecies received in two days of prayer.” Sometimes, he addresses himself in the third person. “We test these things, so today; we will help you … we talk about the veil being open …”
The crowd cheers when he announces that those who sent him prayer requests should tick them off. People are eager for their names to be called. Three women almost jump out of their seats when Mbonye says he ‘sees’ a doctor. They are probably doctors. After an hour of prophecies, Mbonye takes a seat, resting his feet resting on the fur rug, and bows his head in prayer. Two of his bodyguards stand near him. Suddenly, he stands up and walks out of the tent. That is our signal to leave. At 9.30pm, business is thriving outside the gate and security guards at Housing Finance Bank make a killing collecting money off car owners.
Daily Monitor, January 2017
May God take care of our leader Prophet Elvis Because he has an anointing that preserves,heals and protects all am requesting u kindly Prophet is to cover my family, relatives and friends with the hand of God.
Wolves in sheep’s. Clothing. Pastor has made his church a business . Beloved church money is not meant to feed you as a pastor.. why bcz yo working for GOD freely. Hell is real…
The 12 deciples chosen by Jesus Christ were not body guards, He taught them the good news from the father so that they may continue to spread this good news to the world!! The good news is” For God so loved th world that He gave His begotten son (Jesus Christ) that who ever beleives in Him wil not perish but have everlasting life) He taught them with a lowly heart and to riches of this world, our Lord did not look at!!! Because he is if heaven and so he cauitioned his desciples and all that beleive in him!! Now look onto the so called prophets of today, to the world riches they cling, self exaltation is order of the day…and many are lost because of lack of wisdom!!
How can I reach the prophet for prayers. I urgently need his prayers as I am suffering from diabetes, hypertension, ulcers, and chronic gout. For real I need prayers from him to heal.
Thank you,
David Ngereri
Phone +254733994927 / +254721149062
Kenyan
Stop talking nonsense about Jesus collecting the disciples as “bodyguards” I’m not good at the Bible but I’ve attended Sunday school as far as remember when Jesus was being arrested and one of the disciples chopped one of the officers’ ear Jesus said “He who lives and kills by the sword, shall die by the sword”
Use common sense he was trying to also tell them not to act as his body guards
And let us not be blinded by any “prophet” or bishops or pastors and their “prophecies” U should believe the Lord that is in u and is working in u
Stop believing everything otherwise anyone can wake up and claim to be a prophet
Pray everyday😇
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”
2Chronicles 20:20
Wake up and stop talking nonsense!
Hebrews 5:12 NIV, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”
Now people like you who are still in Sunday school will never understand this. How can you shamelessly glory in your ignorance at your age. You are the person written about in
1 Corinthians 3:2, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” Just keep your immaturity in the things of the Spirit to yourself coz you’re not even willing to learn.
Thank you brother Omar Musa this person called prophet is among the false prophets which prophet Muhammad saw talked about so my fellow Ugandans let us open our eyes “no any other prophet will come after me” those were some of the prophet Muhammad’s SAW words in one of his Traditions
These are the false prophets predicted in the book of Matthew 23&24. They are out now to bring confusion among the true believers all over the world! They have been given power by the beast to perform miracles and even foresee. Open your eyes and see my dear brothers and sisters! Go back to your knees for God might pardon you and get you out this burning island (satanic Kingdom). There is no time left, for the revelation to John in the Island of Patmos has been fulfilled! Almighty God show yourself to this lost generation!!!!!!
Have you ever met Prophet Elvis Mbonye? No! let alone go to His fellowship? No! Of all the People that increasingly go to Him, is there any complaining? No! Has He said anything and it failed to come to pass? No! Then on what grounds do you justify your claims. In Luke 13:35 the Lord says, “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”
Our Lord Jesus Christ, had 12 deciples whom he taught to serve their father and take the good news to the world, that is to preach the gosple!! He (Jesus Christ) bestowed Himself before them…that he even called them brothers!! False prophets in pride they live, they seek honour and exaltation, the good news they preach is earthly riches!!! But prophets from God bear the life of Jesus Christ, in meakness and endurance they serve God, and have message for eternity!
“Has He said anything and it failed to come to pass?”
Yup:
“In his prophecies, the self-proclaimed man of God said that American actress Laurie Metcalf would bag the accolade for Best Supporting Actress. Unfortunately for him and his believers, Allison Janney – also an American actress – took the award last night.”
“Apparently, he did prophesy that Joe Biden would not become president of the US. He could not have been more wrong. Mr Biden beat the impulsive and eccentric Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the US and is looking forward to his inauguration in January 2021.
On social media, Mr Mbonye — I do not think he should be called a prophet — has been the butt of some very harsh jokes from Ugandans who are taunting him for his fake prophecies.”
Thanks so much for This us a, you are really a darling you know.
We pray may God open up the eyes of the believers that we shall know the truth🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I just love Prophet Elvis Mbonye and am surly walking in his glorious footsteps
Its Not That Those People Whom You Call His Bodyguards, He Uses Them For Protection But He Uses Them To Easy His Work As Jesus Christ Did To Choose His Disciples.So What Do You Think, Why Did Jesus Choose His Disciples,for Protection Or Easy His Ministry
That was a good One for real bingoo
Does he really need bodyguards. He doesn’t trust God or holy angels enough to protect him?! Who of the prophets or apostles in the Bible ever required body guards? #1Corinthians 2:5
they are not really bodyguards. They are men who move with him to fix or make sure everything is in order. let’s say, his mic gets issues, these men will quickly hand him another mic. …
He is truly a prophet