Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was a real Ugandan apocalyptic Catholic splinter sect whose leaders orchestrated the deaths of more than 700 followers in Kanungu in March 2000, an event initially staged to resemble an accidental fire before subsequent investigation established it as mass murder tied to the group's failed doomsday predictions.
The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God emerged in Uganda during the 1980s as an apocalyptic Catholic splinter group that ultimately ended in mass death at Kanungu in March 2000, killing over 700 followers in what became one of Africa’s deadliest cult tragedies.
Founded by Joseph Kibweteere and Credonia Mwerinde, the movement began as a strict religious community emphasizing adherence to the Biblical Ten Commandments and preparing for an imminent apocalypse. The group attracted thousands of followers through promises of salvation and claims of miraculous healings performed by Mwerinde.
The movement imposed harsh restrictions on members including vows of silence, celibacy, and surrender of personal property. Followers were required to communicate only through hand signals and were forbidden from using soap, as it was considered a “chemical of Satan.” The group’s apocalyptic beliefs intensified as predicted dates for the world’s end passed without fulfillment.
On March 17, 2000, hundreds of followers died in a fire at their Kanungu compound, with evidence suggesting mass murder rather than mass suicide. Additional bodies were later discovered at other movement sites throughout Uganda. The tragedy exposed the vulnerability of impoverished communities to apocalyptic movements during times of social upheaval and highlighted the dangers of religious extremism combined with authoritarian control.
Bibliography:
- African Religious Movements
- Cult Studies Journal
- Uganda Crisis Reports
- Religious Extremism Analysis