Worst Female Serial Killer In Recorded History
Credonia Mwerinde: The Ugandan Cult Leader Behind History's Worst Religious Mass Murder
In March 2000, a horrific event unfolded in Uganda that would become the deadliest religious cult massacre in recorded history. At the center of this tragedy was Credonia Mwerinde, a woman whose leadership of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments resulted in the deaths of over 900 followers.
Key Facts: The Kanungu Massacre
Date: March 17, 2000
Location: Kanungu, Uganda
Death Toll: 924 confirmed victims
Cult Name: Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments
Leader: Credonia Mwerinde (The Programmer)
Status: Mwerinde disappeared and remains at large
The Rise of a Deadly Cult
Credonia Mwerinde, born in 1952 in Uganda, emerged as the central figure in the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments. While officially just one of the cult's "12 Apostles," insiders knew her as "The Programmer" - the true power behind the organization.
"Whenever anything was to be done, it was Credonia," recalled Therese Kibwetere, the estranged wife of co-leader Joseph Kibwetere, emphasizing Mwerinde's absolute control over the cult's operations.
The Cult's Beliefs and Practices
The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments blended elements of Roman Catholicism with apocalyptic prophecies. Through their 163-page manifesto, "A Timely Message From Heaven: The End of the Present Times," cult leaders claimed to receive messages from the Virgin Mary.
The document contained dire predictions of famines, wars, rivers turning to blood, and food becoming poison. The cult initially predicted the world would end on December 31, 1999, and when this prophecy failed, they revised the date to December 31, 2000.
Members were required to swear vows of absolute poverty, chastity, and obedience. To join, followers had to sell their possessions and donate the proceeds to the cult. At its peak, the movement had approximately 4,000 members living across five compounds in Uganda.
The March 2000 Massacre
Timeline of Events
Mwerinde locked hundreds of followers inside a chapel facing Rugyeyo Mountain. All doors and windows were secured to prevent escape before the building was set on fire.
Police discovered additional mass graves containing hundreds of cult members who had been stabbed, strangled, or poisoned. Many victims were children.
The official death toll reached 924, surpassing the 1978 Jonestown massacre (914 deaths) as the deadliest religious cult incident in history.
Investigation and Aftermath
The investigation revealed disturbing details about the cult's final days. Authorities discovered the bodies of six men partially dissolved in sulfuric acid - believed to be the executioners who carried out Mwerinde's orders.
Investigator Eric Naigambi noted the chilling efficiency of the plan: "It would have been the perfect murder. Were it not for the smell of rotting flesh, the murder of the last 600 cult members would have been dismissed as suicide."
Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibwetere disappeared immediately after the massacre and have never been found. The Ugandan government declared April 2, 2000, as a national interdenominational prayer service day in memory of the victims.
Credonia Mwerinde
Role: Cult Leader ("The Programmer")
Status: Disappeared, presumed at large
Born: 1952, Uganda
Joseph Kibwetere
Role: Co-leader, excommunicated Catholic priest
Status: Disappeared with Mwerinde
The Cult
Peak Membership: ~4,000 followers
Compounds: 5 locations across Uganda
Victims: 924 confirmed deaths
Historical Context and Significance
The Kanungu massacre represents a tragic case study in religious extremism and the dangers of charismatic leadership. Unlike the Jonestown mass suicide, evidence suggests most victims in Uganda were murdered rather than participating willingly in their own deaths.
The incident challenged stereotypes about female criminality and leadership in violent organizations. Mwerinde's case demonstrates that women can occupy central roles in orchestrating large-scale violence, contrary to traditional assumptions about gender and aggression.
Twenty-five years after the Kanungu tragedy, the story of Credonia Mwerinde and the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments serves as a sobering reminder of the potential for religious devotion to be manipulated into violence. The case remains one of the most devastating examples of cult violence in modern history and continues to raise important questions about religious freedom, mental health, and community intervention.
Explore More: This story is part of our African Truth & Justice Hub featuring stories of resistance and human dignity.
