The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God – A Deadly Tragedy in the Heart of Uganda
One of the most notorious and controversial religious cults in Africa is the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God; a cult that began with the promise of strictly following the Ten Commandments but ended up committing one of the bloodiest tragedies in modern African history. Founded in 1989 by Joseph Kibwetere and Credonia Mwerinde in Uganda, the group’s history hides strange and dark realities. Follow this story in Cults Of Terror Ep 6 from Alara Entertainment.
The Beginning – Two Leaders with Different Goals
Joseph Kibweteere was a religious and affluent man whose life changed when he met a woman named Credonia Mwerinde. In the early 1980s, Credonia was known primarily as a bar worker and sex service provider. Observing the growth of apocalyptic Christian churches and the high income they generated, she decided to create her own cult. Due to Uganda’s male-dominated society, she chose Joseph as the front leader and convinced him with a fabricated religious story.
Over time, Credonia gained psychological control over Joseph and his family. Joseph sold all his possessions for the group’s goals. After being expelled from his home, the first members settled on land Credonia had inherited, and with members’ money and labor, they built a church and other facilities.
Teachings and Rules – From Austerity to Fear
The group’s doctrine was a mix of Catholic beliefs, local superstitions, and intense apocalyptic propaganda. Members had to surrender their possessions to the cult and live under severe austerity: strict fasting, minimal food, complete silence except during prayers, prohibition of sexual relations, and deprivation of children from education. These harsh conditions existed while Credonia lived in comfort.
The Social Context – Fear and Despair
In the decades before the group’s formation, Uganda had endured dictatorships, civil war, and social crises. Traditional churches lost credibility due to repeated scandals. The HIV/AIDS epidemic and widespread social despair further prepared the ground for apocalyptic groups. Joseph and Credonia also recruited expelled priests and religious leaders into their movement.
The Massacre – March 17, 2000
The leaders promised that the world would end on December 31, 1999. When nothing happened, members protested. The leaders then set a new date: March 17, 2000. On that day, after a feast and prayers, hundreds of members were locked inside a nailed-shut church. An explosion and fire killed 530 people – including 78 children. In the following days, hundreds more bodies were found on the cult’s other properties; many had been poisoned or stabbed. The official death toll exceeded 924, though it is believed the real number was higher.
The Fate of the Leaders and Aftermath
Initially, it was believed Joseph and Credonia were among the dead, but police later announced they had fled and were wanted internationally. Later reports suggested Joseph was living in Malawi.
The tragedy of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God is a stark example of the vulnerability of societies gripped by fear, hopelessness, and distrust – and a warning of how cults can exploit religious beliefs to commit atrocity.
To learn more about cult stories and the psychology of apocalyptic movements, and to watch Cults Of Terror Ep 6, visit the Alara Entertainment YouTube channel.