A Ugandan religious movement infamous for a tragic mass tragedy in 2000, rooted in apocalyptic beliefs and strict adherence to the Ten Commandments.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Catholicism (Independent)
Founder: Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibweteere
Founded: Early 1990s
Ended: 2000
Location: Uganda
Size: 4,000 members (estimate)
Other Names: Restoration of the Ten Commandments, Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (MRTCG) was a religious group founded in Uganda in the late 1980s. Led by Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibwetere, the cult had a strong emphasis on the apocalypse and the end of times. Its doctrine was heavily influenced by the Ten Commandments, which they believed were the ultimate path to salvation. However, the cult gained notoriety for its mass murder event in 2000, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of its followers.
Origins of the Movement
The political and societal unrest in Uganda during the late 20th century set the stage for the emergence of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God. The dictatorship of Idi Amin, the AIDS pandemic, and the Ugandan Bush War had left the population in a state of fear and uncertainty. Amidst this turmoil, charismatic leaders like Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibwetere gained followers by promising salvation and an escape from the impending apocalypse.
The roots of the MRTCG can be traced back to Paulo Kashaku, the father of Credonia Mwerinde. In 1960, Kashaku claimed to have seen a vision of his deceased daughter, Evangelista, who prophesied that he would be visited by heavenly apparitions. These revelations materialized in 1988 when Kashaku claimed to have seen Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph. Inspired by these encounters, Kashaku established a gathering place for believers on his land near Kanungu, Uganda.
Credonia Mwerinde also claimed to have seen similar visions and was involved in a Virgin Cult. In 1989, she and her daughter, Ursula Komuhangi, were instructed by Kashaku to spread the message of the Virgin Mary to other parts of the country. During their journey, they met Joseph Kibwetere, a devout Roman Catholic known for his piety and good works. Kibwetere, who had also received apparitions from the Virgin Mary since 1984, welcomed Mwerinde and Komuhangi into his home, following the instructions of the Virgin Mary. Together, they decided to form the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, with the mission of spreading the Virgin’s message about the apocalypse. As the cult grew, it attracted several defrocked Catholic priests and nuns who served as theologians and explained the group’s messages.
Growth of the Movement
In 1992, Kibwetere and the members of the movement relocated to Kanungu, where they established a communal setting. The group grew rapidly, with several hundred individuals living austere lifestyles and practicing strict adherence to the Ten Commandments. They built homes, a church, an office, and a school, and expanded their evangelization efforts to various parts of Uganda. With the arrival of respected priest Dominic Kataribabo, the cult began to flourish. Kibweteere sold his properties to fund the increasing number of disciples and by the late 1990s, the cult’s membership had grown to nearly 5,000 people.
However, the movement faced challenges in 1998 when authorities revoked their license for operating a school due to breaches in public health regulations and allegations of mistreatment of children. Despite these setbacks, the MRTCG continued to flourish and attract new members who were drawn to its emphasis on moral standards and apocalyptic beliefs. The cult owned multiple properties, including plantations and a primary school. They believed that the apocalypse would occur on December 31, 1999, and as the date approached, they stopped working in the fields and urged members to confess their sins.
Beliefs and Practices
The MRTCG’s beliefs were rooted in Roman Catholicism, although the group did not consider itself a new religious movement but rather a conservative Catholic group. They recognized the Pope as the head of the Church and celebrated Masses in the vernacular. However, their distinctiveness lay in their emphasis on the Ten Commandments and their apocalyptic worldview.
The primary objective of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was to strictly adhere to the Ten Commandments and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. The cult placed significant emphasis on the impending apocalypse, which they believed could only be survived by following the Commandments. To avoid committing sins, members of the cult discouraged verbal communication and instead relied on sign language. Fasting was a common practice within the cult, and sexual interaction was strictly forbidden. They practiced nightly prayer, led by the twelve apostles known as Entumwa, who were believed to be preparing for the second coming of Christ.
The cult was known for its unique interpretation of the Virgin Mary’s role in the end times. They believed that the Virgin Mary communicated with their leadership and considered their compound in Kanungu to be the ‘Noah’s Ark’ of their time, providing a refuge for righteousness in a world steeped in depravity. They believed that this ark would ultimately save them from the apocalypse and allow them to enter the new world at the second coming.
The movement’s literature, particularly the book A Timely Message from Heaven: The End of the Present Time, played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and practices of its members. New recruits were required to read this booklet extensively before becoming full members, and it outlined the MRTCG’s interpretation of the Ten Commandments and their relevance in the present age.
The Tragedy of March 17, 2000
The events leading up to the tragedy of March 17, 2000, remain shrouded in mystery and controversy. While some reports suggest that the MRTCG predicted the end of the world on December 31, 1999, their literature indicated that the new earth would begin with “year one, after the year 2000.” The exact timing of the predicted second coming is uncertain.
When January 1, 2000, came and went without the occurrence of the apocalypse, the cult leadership faced a crisis. Followers began to question the leaders’ prophecies and demanded the return of the money they had given to the cult. In response, the leaders set a new date for the apocalypse, March 17, 2000.
In the days preceding March 17th, members of the MRTCG engaged in activities that indicated preparation for a significant event. They slaughtered cattle, purchased large quantities of Coca-Cola, and invited current and previous members to gather at the compound.
On the day of the tragedy, the cult held a large gathering at Kanungu, where they slaughtered three bulls and drank 70 crates of soft drinks. After members assembled in the old church, which had been boarded up from the outside, there was an explosion, and the building was engulfed in flames, resulting in a devastating fire that killed all 530 people inside. The windows and doors of the building had been sealed to prevent anyone from escaping. The fire led Ugandan authorities to investigate the cult’s activities, and they discovered hundreds of bodies at various sites across southern Uganda. The bodies showed signs of poisoning, and it was believed that they had been murdered by the cult’s leadership.
Aftermath
The tragedy of Kanungu prompted significant scrutiny and criticism of the MRTCG and similar groups. The Ugandan government condemned the actions of the cult’s leaders and initiated investigations into their activities. Some African governments reacted strongly against what they perceived as “cults,” leading to concerns of witch-hunts and a failure to distinguish between law-abiding religious movements and violent ones.
The exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy and the fate of the movement’s leaders, including Kibwetere and Mwerinde, remain unclear, with some speculating that they escaped with the cult’s money.\
image via BBC
