Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God - Africa
Introduction
The Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God is a religious sect that gained popularity in Uganda in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Led by a group of people who claimed to be inspired by God, including leaders like Credonia Mwerinde (women in the middle) and Joseph Kibweteere (next to the women) , the sect preached strict adherence to the Ten Commandments and a prophesied of impending apocalyptic events. Members of this sect lived a simple life, separating themselves from society and engaging in communal living and religious practices. In March 2000,there was a massacre at their compound that killed hundreds of followers.
The Continent Africa
Africa is the second largest continent in the world, that covers an area of more than 30 million square kilometres and has an population of 1.3 billion people. There a 54 countries in Africa. Commonly spoken languages are Arabic,Swahili and Hausa. The countries culture is alive with traditional arts,music, dance and food that reflect its heritage.
The Circumstances
Africa is a country with numerous social, economic, political, environmental and cultural circumstances. Many African countries struggle with poverty, food shortages,poor health and education services, and rapid population growth.In addition, political conflicts in some regions and economic problems such as unemployment, income inequality. Furthermore, they struggle with health problems, including infectious diseases and limited access to care, remains common. Also environmental pressures such as deforestation, desertification and climate change threaten many regions.
The life of Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibweteere
Credonia Mwerinde, popularly known as the "Prophetess", was born in Uganda in 1942, into a family with spiritual roots. Her father Paolo Kashaku claimed to have seen heaven since 1960. After her father died in 1988, she dreamed of his deceased relatives, including his sister Evangelista. It is revealed that she was a prostitute who claimed to have received visions from the Virgin Mary, to spread the message to Uganda. Mwerinde played a major role in the formation of the group and believed that her followers had divine insight and spiritual abilities.
Joseph Kibweteere was born in Uganda in 1932. He was a Roman Catholic priest who left the priesthood to enter Mwerinde and form a religious group. Kibweteere is considered one of the key factors in shaping the group's beliefs and practices. Joseph Kibweteere's journey began with a profound spiritual experience in 1984 when he said he met the Virgin Mary in a vision. This meeting, which he shared with others such as Credonia Mwerinde, laid the foundation for the establishment of a new religious movement in Uganda. In 1989, Kibwetere and Mwerinde joined forces to found the Ten Commandments Restoration Movement, whose mission is to spread the message of the arrival of the bone.
The Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
Mwerinde, along with Joseph Kibweteer, claimed to have the same vision and founded the Movement in 1989 with the mission of spreading the Virgin Marys message of the apocalypse.
The sect attracted followers from various backgrounds, like retired Catholic priests and nuns, including Paul Ikazire and Dominic Kataribab, and emphasizes apocalyptic beliefs and claims of Marian apparitions.
The group lived together in Kanungu District, Uganda, with members wearing the same uniforms and limiting their conversations to avoid speaking of the dishonest or sinful. The arrival of Dominic Kataribab brought financial stability to the sect, allowing them to grow their own food and run a school.
By the late 1990s, the Movement had a thriving community with thousands of members, despite facing government scrutiny over unsanitary conditions and allegations of child labor.
As the new millennium approached, the Society intensified its preparations for the end of the world, selling assets and encouraging its members to confess their sins. But when January 1, 2000 passed without the predicted apocalypse, a sense of despair began to emerge among the followers.
The end of the sect
The cult leaders chose a new date for the apocalypse, March 17, 2000, and held a celebration in Kanungu. A few minutes after the party started, an explosion occurred and caused a fire that claimed the lives of all 530 members present.
Subsequent investigations revealed more bodies at Movement facilities throughout southern Uganda, suggesting mass killings had occurred prior to the church fire. The sect's five main leaders, including Kibweteere, Mwerinde and Kataribabo, remain unidentified while authorities suspect they are on the run.
Medical experts confirmed that most of the 395 people who died in the fire were poisoned. At first, it was believed that they were murdered because twisted banana ropes were found around their necks. However, this was not just a human tragedy that occurred in the temple in 1978, a total of 924 people died. These people died weeks before the fire, some died of suffocation, and others were injured. In total, at least 778 people are believed to have died.
Investigations led to a suicide by police claim that this was a massacre orchestrated by the group's leaders. Failed doomsday prophecies may have sparked the group's rebellion, prompting the leaders to devise new apocalypse plans to eliminate their followers.
Eyewitness testimonies, bodies found in various locations, boarded up church windows, the presence of fireworks, and the departure of suspects and gang leaders all support this theory. Additionally, survivors remember seeing groups carrying tools such as nails and hammers, which were used to prevent escape during disasters.
Although Joseph Kibwetere and Credonia Mwerinde were initially thought to have died in the fire, they are believed to be alive. An international arrest warrant has been issued and there are reports that Kibwetere may be hiding in Malawi.
The 48 hectares of land once used for ceremonies are now part of a tea plantation and plans are underway to build a memorial on parts of the building.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_the_Restoration_of_the_Ten_Commandments_of_God<br>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credonia_Mwerinde<br>
https://newreligiousmovements.org/m/movement-for-the-restoration-of-the-ten-commandments-of-god/<br>
https://prezi.com/fbuenmc5c3rd/the-movement-for-the-restoration-of-the-ten-commandments/<br>