Cult News
Tragedy in Africa
The world was shocked again this year by news of mass suicide in the African country of Uganda. The story broke on March 17 when the church of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God suddenly burst into flames and burned to the ground, killing more than 400 men, women, and children. As the recovery of the bodies and investigation of the events leading up to the tragedy proceeded, more gruesome details came to light. First, more bodies were discovered buried in a pit latrine covered with fresh cement, and in a vegetable garden, both on the grounds of the cult's chapel. In all, a total of over 500 bodies were recovered from these three sites in Kanungu, Uganda.

Later investigations of other properties owned by cult leaders turned up an additional 200 plus bodies. These showed evidence of having been strangled, poisoned, beaten, and stabbed to death over the previous two months or so.

The cult was founded in 1987 by self-described former prostitute Credonia Mwerinde, who claimed to have received visions of the Virgin Mary.

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