Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God

The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was a cult in Uganda, founded in some ways by Credonia Mwerinde and in others by Joseph Kibwetere. Mwerinde was a prostitute in the town of Kanungu who had been through several unhappy marriages before she met a man who took her as his seventh wife. She had three children from previous marriages, but was unable to conceive, which strained her marriage once again. However, she claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, who apparently told her that she herself had decided to withhold Mwerinde's children. Kibwetere believed very strongly in these visions and later claimed to have visions himself of conversations between Mary and Jesus.

The face of Joseph Kibwetere, failed politician and Movement leader.

The Movement was founded due to one of these conversations that Kibwetere allegedly heard, in which the Virgin Mary complained to Jesus about the world's lack of regard for the Ten Commandments. She also predicted in this conversation that the world would end on December 31, 1999. The group started out harmlessly enough, with members reportedly being very disciplined with only some strange habits. However, it took a turn for the worse when it began to fail to fulfill public health requirements and authorities began to receive reports of children being treated badly.

Mwerinde's own goals especially became to come to light when she became a dominant figure in the group. The Virgin Mary's orders were channelled through her body and voice, causing others to refer to her as the "programmer." Kibwetere was mostly seen as a mere pawn in Mwerinde's quest for fame and money. She was said to be violent and unstable, and it was speculated that she was a pyromaniac and that she had killed before. One of her ex-husbands was quoted as saying "She was only happy when she was making money."

When December 31, 1999 came to pass and the year 2000 began, Mwerinde declared that the world would end before the year 2000 did, and there would not be a year 2001. On March 17, 2000, a fire that may have been planned beforehand killed between 300 and 600 people. The Movement engaged in celebratory activities a few days beforehand, and Kibwetere described the world-changing events that were about to take place in a letter to government officials. However, there is speculation that it may have been a mass murder rather than a mass suicide. Unfortunately, due to the challenges posed by the fact that the Movement was in Uganda, proper investigation has failed and very little is known about the Movement or the disastrous fire that killed many members.

The unfortunate cleanup crew dealing with the aftermath of the fire.