Kibwetere Died In 1999

New Clues? Kibwetere

New Vision/May 19, 2001
By James Mujuni

Joseph Kibwetere, the leader of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, wanted by the Police for the murder of about 1,000 people in Kanungu last year, died in July 1999, his wife has said.

Theresa said Kibwetere died after a long mental illness on July 26,1999 and was buried at night in a garden at Rugazi.

"I have evidence that my husband died on July 26, 1999 and was buried at night in a garden at Fr. Dominic Kataribaabo's house in Rugazi, Bushenyi district," she said.

She said on Wednesday after the burial, the cult leaders planted sugar canes over the grave.

"I know where my husband's body is buried. We are going to ask the Police to allow us to exhume the body for a decent burial here at home," she said.

Last year, Theresa told the Police that Kibwetere died with hundreds of other believers in the inferno in the cult's church at Kanungu.

She declined to discuss her earlier statement that her husband had written to her a letter and sent home his book days before the inferno. Theresa also refused to reveal the source of her fresh information.

"There were witnesses in Rugazi who can testify and point at the exact spot at which Kibwetere was buried. I will co-operate with the Police when the time comes to make sure that this mystery is resolved once and for all," Theresa said.

The regional criminal investigations officer, south-western, Terence Kinyera, said this new information would reinforce the investigations.

A court warrant of arrest for Kibwetere and four other cult leaders stands.