Uganda: Evidence that leaders of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God including Joseph Kibwetere, are targetting surviving members of the cult for reprisals and/or death (March 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 27 October 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UGA35534.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Uganda: Evidence that leaders of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God including Joseph Kibwetere, are targetting surviving members of the cult for reprisals and/or death (March 2000), 27 October 2000, UGA35534.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4beb90.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports that leaders of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, continue to target surviving members for reprisal and/or death could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Reports indicate that at least 1000 members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God are believed to have been murdered by cult leaders including Joseph Kibwetere, an excommunicated Catholic priest, Fr. Dominic Kataribabo, and Credonia Mwerinde on 17 March 2000 (IPS 7 Apr. 2000; PANA
24 May 2000; New Vision 5 June 2000; Sydney Morning Herald 30 Mar. 2000; Associated Press 31 Mar. 2000).
The whereabouts of the three leaders were unknown as of July 2000; Mwerinda and Kibwetere are believed "to be on the run." (The Toronto Star 30 July 2000; Xinhua 27 Aug. 2000; Sydney Morning Herald 30 Mar. 2000; ). Although Kibwetere's estranged wife believes that he died in the inferno. However, "Ugandan authorities suspect he is still at large and have launched a nation wide manhunt" for him (BBC 29 Mar. 2000; AP 31 Mar. 2000; IPS 7 Apr.2000), and were reportedly issuing international arrest warrants for Kibwetere and Mwerinda (AP 31 Mar. 2000; IPS 7 Apr. 2000). If apprehended, the leaders "the face death by hanging if arrested and convicted" (IPS 7 Apr. 2000).
In May 2000, the police found Father Kataribabo's passport, leading the authorities to speculate that he "might be dead, hiding somewhere in Uganda or has another passport, which he may have used to flee to another country" (PANA 24 May 2000). Xinhua reports that Kibwetere "is suspected to be hiding in western Kenya" (27 Aug. 2000). The passport of Dr. Khan Ali, a Pakistani national and son-in-law to Joseph Kibwetere was impounded by police authorities in Uganda, who also interrogated him about the whereabouts of Kibwetere (ibid.). Dr. Ali, allegedly a member of the cult, is said to have disappeared after the Kanungu fire and massacre on 17 March 2000 (ibid.). After re-appearing in May, he was arrested and taken to the police station in Kabale district, where Kanungu is located, but he "denied any connection with his father-in-law activities" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Associated Press (AP). 31 March 2000. "Uganda: Christian Doomsday Cult – Part 5."
BBC. 29 March 2000. "The Preacher and the Prostitute."
Inter Press Service (IPS). 7 April 2000. "Religious-Uganda: Why the Cult Murders Went Undetected." (NEXIS)
New Vision [Kampala]. 5 June 2000. "Uganda: Police Hold Kibwetere's Son-in-Law's Passport." (Africa News/NEXIS)
Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 24 May 2000. "Uganda: Neurological Shock Caused Mass Deaths Of Cult Members." (Africa News/NEXIS)
Sydney Morning Herald. 30 March 2000. "After the World's End: With Uganda's Cult Deaths Now Numbering 800, Investigator are Puzzling at How a Pillar of the Church Could Become a Mass-Murderer."
The Toronto Star. 30 July 2000. "Uganda's Prophets for Profit."
Xinhua. 27 August 2000. "Cult Leader Said to be Hiding in Kenya." html.> [Accessed: 23 Oct. 2000] Additional Sources Consulted Africa Research Bulletin. 1998-2000. Amnesty International Report 1999. 2000. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999.2000. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. Keesing's Record of World Events. 1998-2000. LEXIS/NEXIS Resource Centre. Country File. Uganda. Unsuccessful attempts to reach oral souces. Search engines including: Google Lycos Mamma Internet sites including: All Africa