Joseph Kibwetere and Ugandan Cult Mass Murder/Suicide

Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu

JF-Expert Member
Feb 3, 2009
42,331
33,146
Joseph Kibwetere and Ugandan Cult Mass Murder/Suicide


February 2001 | By Rick Ross

March 17, 2000 more than 500 members of the African "Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments" entered their small church in Kangngu, within the western region of Uganda. They sang for some hours before the small wooden building was set on fire from inside. The doors were locked and windows boarded and nailed shut. Everyone inside perished. Their charred bodies, including 11 children, were later found by authorities.

Africa reeled in shock as Ugandan police found hundreds more murdered by the cult. According to pathologists who examined their remains some were poisoned, others strangled; many had stab wounds and/or fractured skulls. Their bodies were hidden under houses or thrown down wells and latrine pits. The cult death toll ultimately reached at least 780, though some reports place the final number at more than 1,000. The movement's mass murder/suicide seems to have surpassed Jonestown as the most horrific cult tragedy in recorded history.



Cult Leader, Joseph Kibwetere

The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments was founded by Joseph Kibwetere in the late 1980s and at one time may have included as many as 5,000 members. The 68-year-old self-styled "bishop" was once a prominent Roman Catholic and active in Ugandan politics. In 1998 Kibwetere was hospitalized for treatment of a mental illness. "He had an affective disorder. A cyclical thing. Up and down. Like manic depress[ion]," advised Dr. Fred Kigozi, executive director of Kampala's Butabika mental hospital.

Kibwetere claimed to have visions and hear conversations between Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He said the Virgin Mary complained about the world's departure from the Ten Commandments. And subsequently, that he was commanded to announce a coming Apocalypse in the year 2000.

Kibwetere authored a handbook, which foretold a litany of coming calamities that would destroy most of the world's population. He said only those who obeyed the commandments and followed him might be spared within his church, which he called the "ark."

A Catholic priest Dominica Kataribaabo joined the movement and became a leader below Kibwetere. But Joseph Kibwetere's special revelation led to expulsion and eventual excommunication for both men from the Roman Catholic Church. The past Bishop of Mbarara Diocese said, "Kibwetere claimed that he could talk to God, which was unacceptable."


Credonia Mwerinde, prominent and powerful Ugandan cult leader

Joseph Kibwetere merged his leadership with a former prostitute named Credonia Mwerinde often called the "programmer." Some say Mwerinde, who claimed to have met the Virgin Mary, ultimately eclipsed the cult's founder in both real importance and power. Fr. Paul Ikazire, a priest and former cult member said she dominated the group and that "Kibwetere was just a figurehead." He characterized Mwerinde as "a trickster, obsessed with the desire to grab other people's property." The Virgin Mary as channeled through Mwerinde proscribed all the rules of the group.

Credonia Mwerinde preached that personal possessions were evil. She encouraged cult members to sell everything and surrender all their assets to her. Eventually Mwerinde became rich and accumulated farms, houses and cars. Paul Ikazire recalled, "She would come in and say things like: 'The Virgin Mary wants you to bring more money."'

Kibwetere and Mwerinde kept their followers isolated. Any contact with outsiders ("sinners") was strictly monitored and often forbidden. Cult members were predominately poor and former Catholics. They were encouraged to be celibate, sworn to a vow of silence and unable to speak unless in prayer. They often relied upon sign language.

The movement's members rose at dawn, prayed until noon and worked long hours in the fields before going to bed usually at 10 PM. Though newcomers were fed well the regular members largely subsisted on beans. They were hungry, tired, estranged from family and largely cut off from the outside world.

Doomsday predictions were made by the cult's leaders, but pushed forward again and again. Kibwetere's manifesto handbook had been mailed out by the thousands, which was titled "A Timely Message From Heaven: The End of the Present Time." The date for this final event was set for December 31, 2000. When that day passed as another unfulfilled prophecy it is believed that some disgruntled members wanted to leave and have their property returned.

On March 15, 2000 (two days before the church fire) Kibwetere issued a "farewell" letter to government officials. That letter spoke of the imminent end of the current generation and the world. Similar sentiments were expressed in a previous communication, which said "God sent us as a movement of truth and justice to notify the people to prepare for the closing of this generation, which is at hand." One official reflecting upon Kibwetere's last letter recalled, "The person who brought the letter bid farewell to the...staff. It was pre-meditated suicide."


Hundreds burned to death within Ugandan Church

Joseph Kibwetere's family says he is dead. His body has not been positively identified, but a ring believed to be Kibwetere's was found on a finger amongst the rubble of the burned church. Police never recovered the body of Dominic Kataribaabo, but did find his 1997 passport.

There are conflicting claims regarding Credonia Mwerinde. At one point the police claimed to have identified her body. But some people speculate she is still alive. Cult survivors claim she killed the other leaders before fleeing. One local businessman stated that just days before the church fire, Mwerinde talked to him about selling cult property, which included large tracts of land, vehicles and buildings. A documentary later produced for African television concluded that "money and greed" motivated Mwerinde to initially help form the cult and ultimately led her to destroy it.

An international law enforcement hunt for the leaders of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments has so far produced no meaningful results. No leader has yet been located or arrested.

More...

 
March 17, 2000 more than 500 members of the African "Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments" entered their small church in Kangngu, within the western region of Uganda. They sang for some hours before the small wooden building was set on fire from inside. The doors were locked and windows boarded and nailed shut. Everyone inside perished.

Their charred bodies, including 11 children, were later found by authorities.

Africa reeled in shock as Ugandan police found hundreds more murdered by the cult. According to pathologists who examined their remains some were poisoned, others strangled; many had stab wounds and/or fractured skulls.

Their bodies were hidden under houses or thrown down wells and latrine pits. The cult death toll ultimately reached at least 780, though some reports place the final number at more than 1,000. The movement's mass murder/suicide seems to have surpassed Jonestown as the most horrific cult tragedy in recorded history.


Cult Leader ,Joseph Kibwetere

The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments was founded by Joseph Kibwetere in the late 1980s and at one time may have included as many as 5,000 members.

The 68-year-old self-styled "bishop" was once a prominent Roman Catholic and active in Ugandan politics. In 1998 Kibwetere was hospitalized for treatment of a mental illness. "He had an affective disorder. A cyclical thing. Up and down. Like manic depress[ion]," advised Dr. Fred Kigozi, executive director of Kampala's Butabika mental hospital.

Kibwetere claimed to have visions and hear conversations between Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He said the Virgin Mary complained about the world's departure from the Ten Commandments. And subsequently, that he was commanded to announce a coming Apocalypse in the year 2000.


Kibwetere (second right) and his assistants Ursala Komuhangi, Mwerinde and Fr. Kataribaabo in 1995

Kibwetere authored a handbook, which foretold a litany of coming calamities that would destroy most of the world's population. He said only those who obeyed the commandments and followed him might be spared within his church, which he called the "ark."

A Catholic priest Dominica Kataribaabo joined the movement and became a leader below Kibwetere. But Joseph Kibwetere's special revelation led to expulsion and eventual excommunication for both men from the Roman Catholic Church. The past Bishop of Mbarara Diocese said, "Kibwetere claimed that he could talk to God, which was unacceptable."


Credonia Mwerinde, prominent and powerful Ugandan cult leader

Joseph Kibwetere merged his leadership with a former prostitute named Credonia Mwerinde often called the "programmer." Some say Mwerinde, who claimed to have met the Virgin Mary, ultimately eclipsed the cult's founder in both real importance and power.

Fr. Paul Ikazire, a priest and former cult member said she dominated the group and that "Kibwetere was just a figurehead." He characterized Mwerinde as "a trickster, obsessed with the desire to grab other people's property." The Virgin Mary as channeled through Mwerinde proscribed all the rules of the group.

Credonia Mwerinde preached that personal possessions were evil. She encouraged cult members to sell everything and surrender all their assets to her. Eventually Mwerinde became rich and accumulated farms, houses and cars. Paul Ikazire recalled, "She would come in and say things like: 'The Virgin Mary wants you to bring more money."'

Kibwetere and Mwerinde kept their followers isolated. Any contact with outsiders ("sinners") was strictly monitored and often forbidden. Cult members were predominately poor and former Catholics. They were encouraged to be celibate, sworn to a vow of silence and unable to speak unless in prayer. They often relied upon sign language.

The movement's members rose at dawn, prayed until noon and worked long hours in the fields before going to bed usually at 10 PM. Though newcomers were fed well the regular members largely subsisted on beans.

They were hungry, tired, estranged from family and largely cut off from the outside world.

Doomsday predictions were made by the cult's leaders, but pushed forward again and again. Kibwetere's manifesto handbook had been mailed out by the thousands, which was titled "A Timely Message From Heaven: The End of the Present Time." The date for this final event was set for December 31, 2000. When that day passed as another unfulfilled prophecy it is believed that some disgruntled members wanted to leave and have their property returned.

On March 15, 2000 (two days before the church fire) Kibwetere issued a "farewell" letter to government officials. That letter spoke of the imminent end of the current generation and the world.

Similar sentiments were expressed in a previous communication, which said "God sent us as a movement of truth and justice to notify the people to prepare for the closing of this generation, which is at hand." One official reflecting upon Kibwetere's last letter recalled, "The person who brought the letter bid farewell to the...staff. It was pre-meditated suicide."


Hundreds burned to death within Ugandan Church

Joseph Kibwetere's family says he is dead. His body has not been positively identified, but a ring believed to be Kibwetere's was found on a finger amongst the rubble of the burned church. Police never recovered the body of Dominic Kataribaabo, but did find his 1997 passport.

There are conflicting claims regarding Credonia Mwerinde. At one point the police claimed to have identified her body. But some people speculate she is still alive. Cult survivors claim she killed the other leaders before fleeing.

One local businessman stated that just days before the church fire, Mwerinde talked to him about selling cult property, which included large tracts of land, vehicles and buildings. A documentary later produced for African television concluded that "money and greed" motivated Mwerinde to initially help form the cult and ultimately led her to destroy it.

An international law enforcement hunt for the leaders of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments has so far produced no meaningful results. No leader has yet been located or arrested.
[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
 
SOURCE: http://www.freemedia.co.tz/daima/habari.php?id=27209

bbc imeripoti kuwa zaidi ya watu 52 wamekwishafariki hko loliondo wakiwa kwenye harakati za kupata kikombe cha babu na inakadiriwa kuwa kwa hali ilivyo hivi sasa watu 10-15 wanapoteza maisha kila siku huko loliondo in connection with babu. hapo haijajumlishwa wale wanaokufa baada ya kurudi majumbani au mahospitalini au kwa ajali za barabarani kutokana na sababu zinazohusiana na tiba hizi za loliondo.

ni wazi kuwa babu akishafikisha miezi say mi3, atakuwa kishamfunika kibwetere wa uganda ambaye anakadiriwa kulipua moto kanisa likiwa na watu kama 350 hivi.

kwa kweli serikali haiwezi kuwepa lawama kwani licha ya kumfumbia macho, bali pia inamsaidia kuendesha tiba za jadi kabla hata hajasajiliwa kama sheria inavyotaka na hivyo serikali imeshirikiana na mtu anayevunja sheria

nawaomba wabunge wetu waulize serikali itoe ufafanuzi ni kwa nini imechukua likizo ya kusimamia sheria za nchi huko loliondo?

ni hayo tu waungwana

utukufu na uweza una yeye Bwana wetu

mbarikiwe
 
Serikali haiwezi kuingilia hata watu mia tano wakifa kwa sababu yenyewe ilishamkubali huyu babu tangu alipoanza kutoa huduma yake, kwa wao kukubali kushindwa sasa hivi ni aibu kubwa. Hata wananchi wenyewe wanaoenda huko kupewa hiyo dawa hawawezi kuacha kwenda hata wakiambiwa watu 1000 wamekufa, maana wao wanang'ang'ana na imani yao tu bila hata kifikiria.
 
Hivi umeshawahi kujiuliza ni watu wangapi wanapoteza maisha kwasababu ya wanaojiita manabiii, mitume, ama maaskofu wanaojitangaza kwenye vyomba vya habari kuwa wantibu magonjwa sugu ikiwemo na ukimwi? Ama kwasababu huwa hawasubirii hapohapo mjengoni kwa muhusika mpaka wakafa? Hembu fuatilia kidogo uta staajabu.
Sikiliza vipinddi mbalimbali vya ukimwi maredioni utasikia waathirika wengi walizidiwa sana baada ya kuhangaika sana kwenye the so called ''huduma za maombezi'' ndipo waipo lazimishwa na ndugu jamaa ama marafiki kwenda haspital.

Achana na akili ya kujibinafsishia neema ya mungu. Mungu habagui kama sisi wanadamu tulio jaa kejeli na majivuno ambavyo vyote ni mizizi ya dhambi. Tuchunge ndimi zetu mungu asije tukana siku ya mwisho.
case study: Nenda kwenye mjengo wa kakobe siku ya J2, mida ya mchana watu wanapotafuta vyakula mchana uone watanzania wa kawaida wengi wao ni wagonjwa wanao tafuta tumaini kupitia ahadi tele za huyu binadamu wanavyoteseka. utakuta wanashindia juice za vikombe na maandazi , ama skonsi ndogo.
Kama anajua ibada yake itachukua siku nzima kwanini asiwaandalie utaratibu wa kuandaa chakula wale wote washibe?
 
Naomba uelewe kuwa watu hao Hawafi kwa kunywa dawa ya babu, wanakufa kutokana na gravity ya ugonjwa wao, kuacha conventional-tiba , uchovu wa safari ndefu etc!
Dawa ya babu ni njema, imethibitishwa hivyo na serikali!...Tuiamnini serikali japo kwa hili, maana iliahidi kwa .."TUTABORESHA HUDUMA ZA AFYA KWA WANANCHI WOTE"...
 
Sasa hii connection ya Kibwetere inaingiaje hapa? Watu kufa kwa ajali na magonjwa ni jambo la kawaida. Unategemea nini iwapo unamtoa mgonjwa mahututi hospitali na kumuweka kwenye foleni kwa wiki nzima bila tiba wala uangalizi wa daktari? Babu mwenyewe amekemea tabia hiyo. Hapa huna hoja ila unadhihirisha tu usivyo na imani na tiba ya Babu.
 
We, Miss Judith, kimtazamo tu unaonekana kama mtu aliyechanganyikiwa. Yaani unapoteza muda wako kupambana na watu wanaotafuta dawa ya magonjwa yanayowasumbua?? Una kisa gani na Mchungaji anayetoa dawa kwa wanaoteseka?? Mbona wapo watu wengi tu wanaotoa dawa za miti shamba na hatujakusikia ukisema lolote au kuwapinga? Mimi nafikiri mawazo yako ni finyu na nataka nikuambie kuwa DUA LA KUKU HALIMPATI MWEWE!! Utasema sana, lakini haisaidii kwani wale wanaopata dawa na kupona wataendelea kuwa na imani na dawa ya BABU na wataendelea kutoa ushuhuda kwa ndugu na marafiki zao, na kijiji cha Samunge kwa Babu kitaendelea kumiminika wagonjwa kutoka mataifa mbalimbali duniani kupata tiba. NGUVU YA MUNGU ni kubwa huwezi kuizuia kwa vijineno vyako vya kijinga. Mzuie basi Mchungaji TB Joshua wa Nigeria anayetibu kwa kutumia "ANOINTING WATER na WRISTBAND ", Mzee wa Upako na Sabuni zenye upako, Getrude Rwakatare na Handkerchief zenye upako. Mbona hao wote husemi??? Tatizo lako wewe unajifanya unamjua MUNGU sana kuliko wengine wanavyomjua. Hiyo ni weakness yako na unapaswa kubaki nayo mwenyewe na siyo kuhubiria watu upuuzi wako. Unatu-bore sana humu kwa articles zako za kijinga.
 
This is the thing, we are not critically thinking, sisi tunaona tu basi kwa sababu huyu mtu anatumia jina la Mungu basi ni mkweli na ndio maana watu hawajiulizi iweje Mungu huyuhuyu akubali watu wafe kisa wanasubiria kikombe. Kama Mungu anataka kumponya mtu hatakubali watu wasafiri kilometers zote hizo kupata dawa wakati anaweza kuwaponya popote walipo. Tunawaamini viongozi wa dini kama wao ndio Miungu wadogo na kila wanachotuambia lazima tukifate, kama vile wao ndio bora zaidi yetu mbele za Mungu.
 

Sasa unataka kusema kuwa Mungu amemtumia huyu babu kutibu wagonjwa ambao hawaumwi sana ila wanaoumwa sana wabaki mahospitalini? Jamani, does this really make sense in your mind?
 

We Maria, unambeza nani sasa? Mbona Miss Judith kaandika kistaarabu sana? Kinachokufanya uongee kama katukana mtu ni nini? Yeye si ametoa mtazamo wake tena kwa busara sasa mbona unamwita amechanganyikiwa? Mimi nadhani wewe ndio uliyechanganyikiwa maana huwezi kuongea na mtu kwa style hiyo kama unadai unamjua Mungu, maana kwa Mungu kama tunavyoelewa hakuna dharau na kunakujishusha kwa hali ya juu na ndicho Miss Judith alichofanya. Toa comment zako kistaarabu, huwezi achia keyboard.
 
Sasa unataka kusema kuwa Mungu amemtumia huyu babu kutibu wagonjwa ambao hawaumwi sana ila wanaoumwa sana wabaki mahospitalini? Jamani, does this really make sense in your mind?

Huyu anatibu wagonjwa wote bila ubaguzi. Kule kuna foleni ndefu. Wewe unamtoa mgonjwa mahututi hospitali unakaa naye kwenye foleni kwa wiki nzima akisuburi tiba. Akifa kabla ya kupata dawa, Babu anahusikaje? Licha ya hayo, Babu hajaoteshwa kuzuia watu wasife, bali kuwaponya. Na hata wagonjwa wote wakiponywa haimaanishi sasa hakutakuwa tena na vifo (hatuwezi kuwa immortal). Ni suala la uelewa tu wa mambo badala ya ku-rush kwenye conclusions za kipuuzi. Hapa tunachoweza kujadili ni uwezekano wa kuwepo utaratibu wa kutoa kipaumbele kwa wagonjwa mahututi ili wapate dawa mapema.
 

Nakubaliana na wewe kwenye suala moja, kwamba hata wagonjwa wote wakipona bado vifo vitakuwepo. Ila ngoja nikuulize swali moja Mzee Punch, mfano wewe unaumwa sana kwa muda mrefu sasa, na uko hoi hospitalini then unasikia kuna babu ametumwa na Mungu kutibu watu ambao wanaumwa magonjwa kama yako. Unataka kuniambia hautatoka hospitali na kwenda kuponywa na huyo babu wakati madaktari wameshakuambia kuwa una cancer na cancer haina dawa? Just think before you answer me please, utaendelea kubaki hospital huku unasikia watu wengine wamepona na possibility ya wewe kupona ni kubwa maana si binadamu anayekuponya ni Mungu mwenyewe?
 
kwenye mambo km haya hakukosekani undumilakuwili...anyway kwa wanaoamini sioni sababu ya kupandikiza wazo hasi vichwani mwao!
 
Huyo Judy hana ustaarabu wowote. Mtu mstaarabu hawezi kufurahia kuona wenzie wenye matatizo wanapata ufumbuzi. Cha kushangaza yeye tangu mwanzo amekuwa anapinga kuona binadamu wenzie wakihangaika kupata tiba ya magonjwa yanayowasumbua. Ina maana kwake yeye kuona watu wanataabika ndiyo raha yake. Hana huruma hata kidogo ndiyo maana anapinga. Sisi tunaomba kila siku tuwe na Taifa la watu wenye afya njema yeye anaona huo ni ujinga. Si akae kimya kama anaona anakwazika kwa imani yake. Kwani kuna haja gani ya kukatisha watu wenye imani tofauti na yeye tamaa?? Mwambie yeye aachie keyboard kwenye swala hili linalogusa afya za watu na siyo kulazimisha watu kufuata imani yake yenye ubinafsi mkubwa.
 
Nafikiria kupumzika JF licha ya hii forum kuitwa the home of Great Thinkers, lakini ukweli hao Great thinkers wa kweli humu hawazidi 50. maana kuna watu humu wako makundi matatu, 1. La kuishambulia Chadema 2. kulishambulia kanisa katoliki 3. kumshambulia babu baada ya makanisa yao kuwa na uhaba wa sadaka za waumini.
Haingii akilini kwa mtu makini eti mtu mmoja kwa wiki nzima anafunguwa thread za kumuandama babu! this can only happen in Tanzania.
 
wabongo wakimkubali mtu bwana!hata wafuasi wa kibwetere nao walikuwa hivihivi tuonavyo wengi wanavyomuamini babu!babu na kibwetere wote walewale formation tu imebadilika yule aliwachoma moto kwa mpigo huyu anawaondoa kiaina katika maeneo tofauti!katika foleni,barabarani,majumbani,mtoni,mahospitalini......
 
Unaposema Serikali itoe ufafanuzi unamaanisha Serikali ipi, ninachofahamu unamaanisha Waziri mwenye dhamana na afya, lakni kumbuka wenye dhamana na afya walishampatia Babu ruhusa ya kuendelea na matibabu yake, na vile vile ukumbuke kuwa viongozi wa Serikali wanongoza kwa kwenda kunywa hiyo dawa maana wao wana rasilimali za kuwafikisha huko na kurudu mapema.
 
Wanaenda kwa Babu kwa sababu wamekata tamaa ha huduma unazota wewe kwenye mahospitali, ni kwa nini huiulizi kwa nini wewe hujaenda huko? Labda kwa sababu huumwi au unaumwa malaria ambayo ni rahisi kutibiwa. Sasa jiweke katika mtu aliyeugua kisukari kwa miaka 20, ataacha kwenda huko?
 

Maria nimekuelewa ila kupinga si ujinga bali ni kutoa muelekeo tofauti na mawazo ya mtu mwingine, na ndio maana halisi ya kuwa na hii website ya Jamii Forums, kwamba mawazo yetu wote hayawezi kufanana, ili debate ifanyike. Mimi mwenyewe siiamini kabisa hiyo tiba ya Loliondo ila nina haki ya kutoa mawazo yangu na hiyo hainifanyi mimi kuwa mjinga. There are so many contradictions between the Bible and this healer that's why it's so difficult for other people to believe in it.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…