this reason six men and six women made up the leaders.
Members grew increasingly tired and hungry and due to the lack of contact with the outside world started to rely on the group for all of the emotions that as humans we rely on to survive.
Even though the majority of the group’s members were Roman Catholics, they were taught that the Catholic Church was an enemy, badly in need of reform. Their own rules as well as those from the handbook, came direct from the Virgin Mary so they must be the right rules to follow – surely?
Doomsday predictions were endlessly lectured by Mwerinde and the other leaders to their flock. When the predicted day passed without any world-ending events the date would be pushed forward. By the time the world had entered the year 2000 it is said that some cult members may have started to suspect something, but Mwerinde calmed these feelings in a constitution. She stated that the world would end ‘before the completion of the year 2000’. There would be no 2001. For many of her members she remained true to her word as on March 17, 2000, a terrifying fire was to take place that would mean the end of the world for hundreds of innocent people.
I NVITATION TO C ELEBRATE
On March 15, 2000, Joseph Kibwetere issued a letter to government officials describing the world changing events that were about to take place. It spoke of the end of the current generation of people and of the world. The messenger dropped off the letter and bid farewell. The members also started to take part in activities that can be seen as preparation for the end or in preparation of a celebration, or both. They slaughtered cattle and bought a large supply of soft drinks such as cola. At the same time members started to travel across the country inviting both current and old members back to the compound in time for March 17. Members were reported as saying that on this day the Virgin Mary was to appear. Many members of the commune started to sell products to the nearby villagers for little or no profit and many debts within the community were settled. A local shop keeper alleges to have sold one of the apostles – Father Dominic Kataribabo – 40 litres of sulphuric acid which he claimed was needed to replenish power batteries.
B LAZING I NFERNO
On the night of March 15, 2000, the members consumed the beef and drinks and had a celebration in honour of their new church, which they had recently constructed. On March 16, the members spent most of the night praying and then met early on March 17, in the new church. It is reported that around 10 a.m. they were all seen leaving the new church to enter the old church, which was now being used as a dining hall.
Did the hundreds of devout worshippers know that this would be the last time they saw the fresh air or did they think they were going to carry on with the celebration feast in the dining hall? When the members finally realised what was going on were they too exhausted and confused to resist?
Approximately 600 people went into the old church on this day and stayed where they were as the windows and doors were boarded up and nailed shut around them. At around 10.30 a.m. nearby villagers heard a massive explosion and when they arrived at the scene a gargantuan inferno had rapidly taken hundreds of lives.
The victims of the blaze included people from all generations; men, women and children perished. The death toll even today is still not accurately known but reports state that between 300 and 600 people died on that ‘apocalyptic’ morning. It is not even known if the leaders of the movement perished with their followers.
Joseph Kibwetere’s family believe that he is dead although his body has not yet been positively identified. A ring believed to have belonged to Kibwetere was found on the finger of a charred body amongst the rubble of the burned church. But is this enough to prove that the 12 apostles burnt together with their followers?
There are
Members grew increasingly tired and hungry and due to the lack of contact with the outside world started to rely on the group for all of the emotions that as humans we rely on to survive.
Even though the majority of the group’s members were Roman Catholics, they were taught that the Catholic Church was an enemy, badly in need of reform. Their own rules as well as those from the handbook, came direct from the Virgin Mary so they must be the right rules to follow – surely?
Doomsday predictions were endlessly lectured by Mwerinde and the other leaders to their flock. When the predicted day passed without any world-ending events the date would be pushed forward. By the time the world had entered the year 2000 it is said that some cult members may have started to suspect something, but Mwerinde calmed these feelings in a constitution. She stated that the world would end ‘before the completion of the year 2000’. There would be no 2001. For many of her members she remained true to her word as on March 17, 2000, a terrifying fire was to take place that would mean the end of the world for hundreds of innocent people.
I NVITATION TO C ELEBRATE
On March 15, 2000, Joseph Kibwetere issued a letter to government officials describing the world changing events that were about to take place. It spoke of the end of the current generation of people and of the world. The messenger dropped off the letter and bid farewell. The members also started to take part in activities that can be seen as preparation for the end or in preparation of a celebration, or both. They slaughtered cattle and bought a large supply of soft drinks such as cola. At the same time members started to travel across the country inviting both current and old members back to the compound in time for March 17. Members were reported as saying that on this day the Virgin Mary was to appear. Many members of the commune started to sell products to the nearby villagers for little or no profit and many debts within the community were settled. A local shop keeper alleges to have sold one of the apostles – Father Dominic Kataribabo – 40 litres of sulphuric acid which he claimed was needed to replenish power batteries.
B LAZING I NFERNO
On the night of March 15, 2000, the members consumed the beef and drinks and had a celebration in honour of their new church, which they had recently constructed. On March 16, the members spent most of the night praying and then met early on March 17, in the new church. It is reported that around 10 a.m. they were all seen leaving the new church to enter the old church, which was now being used as a dining hall.
Did the hundreds of devout worshippers know that this would be the last time they saw the fresh air or did they think they were going to carry on with the celebration feast in the dining hall? When the members finally realised what was going on were they too exhausted and confused to resist?
Approximately 600 people went into the old church on this day and stayed where they were as the windows and doors were boarded up and nailed shut around them. At around 10.30 a.m. nearby villagers heard a massive explosion and when they arrived at the scene a gargantuan inferno had rapidly taken hundreds of lives.
The victims of the blaze included people from all generations; men, women and children perished. The death toll even today is still not accurately known but reports state that between 300 and 600 people died on that ‘apocalyptic’ morning. It is not even known if the leaders of the movement perished with their followers.
Joseph Kibwetere’s family believe that he is dead although his body has not yet been positively identified. A ring believed to have belonged to Kibwetere was found on the finger of a charred body amongst the rubble of the burned church. But is this enough to prove that the 12 apostles burnt together with their followers?
There are
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