Joseph Kibwetere and Ugandan Cult Mass Murder/Suicide

MziziMkavu said:

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...

​

Click to expand...

KASULI said:

Kibwetere

Sent using Jamii Forums mobile app

Click to expand...

muhogomchungu said:

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.

View attachment 252920
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."

View attachment 252919
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]

Click to expand...

mrangi said:

Jamaa mpk Leo..... Jiiiiii

Ova

Sent using Jamii Forums mobile app

Click to expand...

Dr. Wansegamila said:

Ni miaka 17 sasa tangu yalipotokea mauaji ya kutisha ya halaiki katika mji wa Kanungu, nchini Uganda. Mauaji haya yanajulikana kama ‘Kibwetere Kanungu Massacre’ au ‘Mauaji ya Kibwetere’

Mwaka 2000, Machi 17 itabaki kuwa siku mbaya daima kwa wakazi wa maeneo ya Kanungu na maeneo karibu na hayo. Takribani watu 924 (wapo wanaodai ni 530) na zaidi waliteketea kwa moto na kufa kifo cha kutisha mno.

Wake kwa waume pamoja na watoto waliacha simanzi kubwa kwa familia zao, waganda wenzao na kila aliyepata kulisikia tukio hili. Yalikuwa mauaji ya kutisha… ya kusikitisha na kufikirisha!

VILIANZIA WAPI HADI KULETA MAUAJI?

Kulikuwa na harakati za kidini zilizoitwa Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God. Harakati hizi zilikuwa ndani ya Kundi lililokuwa limejitenga toka Kanisa Katoliki. Waanzilishi wa harakati hizi wanatajwa kuwa ni Credonia Mwerinde na Joseph Kibwetere kabla ya watu wengine kuungana nao.

Kabla ya hapo Credonia anayesemwa kuwa mwanamke aliyekuwa akijiuza na kuuza pombe aina ya Banana kabla ya kuanza kudai kuwa na maono ya Bikira Maria, alipokea Kundi la baba yake, Paulo Kashaku, ambaye ndiye haswa aliyejitenga na kanisa katoliki na kuanziaha Kundi lake miaka ya 60.

Baba yake alimtuma kueneza maono yao mnamo mwaka 1989, ndipo alipokutana na Joseph Kibwetere, Mwalimu wa Shule ya Msingi kitaaluma na mtu wa imani.

Walipokutana Credonia alimshawishi Kibwetere waungane na kuanzisha harakati zao akidai alionyeshwa na Mungu amtafute mtu aitwaye Kibwetere na kufanya naye kazi ya Mungu, na ndipo likapatikana Kundi la Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God ambalo lilikuwa likiamini vikali katika Amri 10 za Mungu na juu ya mwisho wa dunia.

Umoja wao ulipata nguvu zaidi pale Dominic Kataribabo, Padre mashuhuri aliyeheshimika, mwenye kiwango cha elimu ya PhD toka chuo kimoja nchini Marekani alipojiunga nao akifuatiwa na Paul Ikazire na baadhi ya mapadre na masista ambao walivutiwa na harakati hizo.

Na ili kupata misaada zaidi na wafuasi wengi. Joseph Kibwetere aliuza baadhi ya mali zake kama nyumba, gari na mashine ya kusaga. Na mnamo miaka ya 90 mwanzoni tayari kanisa lilikuwa mashamba ya mananasi na ndizi huku waumini wakiishi kijamaa katika kambi zilizojengwa kwa pesa na mali ambazo waumini walitakiwa kuziwasilisha kwa viongozi mara tu baada ya kujiunga nao.

Mwerinde alikuwa akidai kupokea ujumbe toka kwa Bikira Maria kupitia simu iliyokuwa mafichoni kisha kuwaletea waumini ujumbe alioupokea. Kundi lilikuwa zaidi. Walijenga nyumba kwa ajili ya viongozi, wakajinunulia mashamba na kujenga nyumba ya ibada na shule.

Mnamo 1992 kundi hili lilitakiwa kuondoka eneo la Rwashamaire kwa amri wa viongozi wa kijiji. Na ndiyo wakahamia rasmi wilaya ya Kanungu ambako baba yake Mwerinde aliwagawia ardhi kubwa ya kutosha!

1994, Paul Ikazire aliachana nao na kuondoka na waumini karibia 70 lakini kufikia 1997 Kundi lilikuwa na waumini wengi mno.
1998, Shule na kundi hili lilifungiwa kwa tuhuma za kutokuwa na mazingira safi kwa usalama wa wanafunzi na waumini, kutumia watoto katika shughuli zao na tuhuma mbaya zaidi ya utekaji watoto wadogo na kuwatumikisha.

Hata hivyo katika hali ya kushangaza, kundi lilifunguliwa na kuruhusiwa kuendelea na shughuli pasipo kuchunguzwa wala kuchukuliwa hatua zozote.

Kama utakumbuka vyema mwishoni mwa miaka ya 90 kulikuwa na hekaheka ya ujio wa milenia mpya. Kwa Kibwetere na waumini wake kulikuwa na imani kuwa Mwaka 2000 ndiyo mwisho wa dunia.

Watu waliuza mali zao, watu walikaa mkao wa kunyakuliwa kwenda mbinguni. Viongozi wao wakizidi kuwajaza imani kuwa mwaka 2000 ulikuwa mwisho wa dunia. Kuna walioacha kazi, kuna waliosalimisha hati za nyumba na mashamba, pesa za mauzo ya mifugo, mishahara ya mwisho kama sadaka.

Watu wasisitizwa kutubu dhambi zao na kuwa tayari kuiona mbingu. Kulikuwa na sherehe ndefu kuelekea mwisho wa mwaka na mwisho wa dunia.

1 Januari, 2000 ilipita pasipo tukio lolote!

Baadhi ya waumini walicharuka, sadaka ilishuka ghafla, wapo walioanza harakati za kudai fedha zao na mali zao walizokabidhi. Walichachamaa vibaya mno wakiwakaba Kibwetere na Mwerinde.
Inasemekana uasi huu na hekaheka hizi ndizo zilizopelekea mauaji ya Machi 17.

Kabla ya hapo waumini walikatazwa kuhoji chochote, kusahihisha chochote walichoona kina mapungufu, na kucharuka kwao kulimaanisha kuanza kujitambua na mengi yangefichuka.

MAUAJI YA HALAIKI….

Baada ya kubanwa sana, ghafla ilitangazwa kuwa wamepokea maono kuwa Machi 17, 2000 ndiyo mwisho wa dunia.
Kundi liliandaa sherehe ya kukata na shoka waliyoiita karamu ya mwisho.

Walichinja ng’ombe dume watatu na kuagiza kreti 70 za vinywaji laini. Watu waliserebuka pasipo kujua ya nyuma ya pazia.

Siku ya tukio, viongozi wa hili kundi walifika kanisani kuabudu na kusifu. Masaa kadhaa baada ya ibada kuanza, ghafla majirani waliokuwa karibu na eneo la kuabudu walisikia mlipuko mkubwa sana ulioambatana na milipuko midogo midogo isiyo na idadi. Vilio vya uchungu na maumivu makali vilisikika wakati moto ukizidi kushika kasi huku madirisha na milango vikiwa vimefungwa kwa kugongewa misumari.

Watu waliteketea vibaya mno, inasemekana viongozi wote wa kundi hili. Joseph Kibwetere, Joseph Kasapurari, John Kamagara, Dominic Kataribabo, na Credonia Mwerinde walikufa katika tukio hili.

Miili ya watu ilikuwa imeungua vibaya sana, watoto wanaokadiriwa kufikia 78 walikufa katika tukiom hili, Maskini pengine pasipo hata kujua imani ni nini, pasipo kuwa na uamuzi wa kukataa kuwa sehemu ya imani hii. Miili na mafuvu mengine yaligeuka kuwa majivu kabisa.

BAADA YA MAUAJI….

Ikagundulika, Siku chache zilizopita kabla ya tukio Dominic Kataribabo alionekana mahali akinunua lita 50 za Sulphuric Acid ambazo zinasemekana kuwa ndizo zilizotumika katika mauaji.

Mashuhuda wanasema walisikia harufu kali ya petroli hivyo yawezekana walidanganywa warundikane ndani ili wanyakuliwe pamoja na kinyume chake wakafunguliwa hewa yenye sumu na kuzungushiwa petrol na moto kuwashwa.

Wapo wanaodai pengine waliaminishwa kufa kwa moto kwa kujimiminia mafuta hayo na kuwasha moto kama safari ya kwenda mbinguni huku hewa yenye sumu ikiwa imeshafunguliwa. Maana madirisha na milango yote ilifungwa barabara kwa ndani kiasi kwamba hakuna aliyeweza kutoka wala kupona.

Kuna sherehe nyingine ilitangazwa kuwa ingefanyika tar. 18 Machi 2000. Sherehe hii ilitangazwa ili kupoteza watu mawazo kwa kuwa kuna watu walianza kuhisi kitu kibaya kingeweza kutokea.

Click to expand...