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Ugandans Horrified By Mass Suicide Toll

Ugandans Horrified By Mass Suicide Toll
March 20, 2000

KAMPALA, Uganda (PANA) - Ugandans have reacted with shock and horror at the mass suicide in a makeshift church in Kanungu in the country's western border district of Rukungiri Friday, in which over 500 people are now believed to have perished.

"The President (Yoweri Museveni) is very shocked... It's unbelievable for such a thing to take place in Africa. I've only heard them in Japan and the USA..." presidential press spokesperson, Hope Kivengere, said Sunday night.

Members of the 'Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments' sect doused themselves Friday with petrol and paraffin before setting themselves ablaze in the church.

State-owned Uganda Television, in its news cast Sunday, night, showed horrific scenes of body upon body lying on top of one another.

The bodies were charred beyond recognition. The suicide is perhaps the second biggest cult killing in the world after the 18 November 1978 death of 912 members of the People's Temple sect in the jungle of Guyan in a ceremony of collective suicide and murder.

"President Museveni has condemned in the strongest terms this horrific, senseless and tragic act and was deeply saddened to learn that the adults who carried out the barbarity had taken children with them and subjected them to such cruelty" Kivengere said.

Police spokesman, Asuman Mugenyi, who returned from the scene Sunday evening estimated the death toll to be between 400 and 500 people or even more.

"The number up to now still remains a puzzle... The people to do the physical count and examination of bodies and other items on the scene are the forensic personnel. Estimates earlier registered 235 but it may double that. The bodies are piled on top of each other," he said.

The cult is led by self-styled prophet Joseph Kibwetere and ex-Roman catholic priests, Rev.-Fr Dominic Kataribabo, Gredeina Mwerinde and John Kamagara.

It is not clear whether the leaders took part in the suicide.

Reports say those burnt had come from about eight districts of Kampala, Rukungiri, Kabarole, Bushenyi, Kasese, Ntungamo, Rakai and Kabale.

It is reported that the believers had been planning for the Doomsday for some time.

They expected the world to come to an end 31 December 1999, but when this did not happen they planned their own end.

At the church, a feast was held where more than 70 crates of soda (soft drinks) were consumed. Bulls were also slaughtered for what the believers termed last super.

After their meal, the believers properly sealed the church from inside and outside leaving only one entrance which was also sealed before the church was set ablaze.

A woman identified as Jane Barisigara from Kabale is said to have died with five of her children, the youngest being eight years.

Another woman is said to have died with her twins while a man also from Kabale with three sons.

State minister for foreign affairs, Amama Mbabazi, who hails from the area expressed shock at the tragedy.

"It is an unfortunate situation. I think it calls on the state to review the issue of cults and see what measures to protect the ordinary people," he said.

The cult was registered as a non-governmental organisation in 1997 but reports say the leaders started preaching and recruitment of membership as far back as 1994.