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On the 17th of March 2000, a cult leader burnt over 600 people in what came to be known as the continent's biggest religious murder. The man behind the killings, Kibwetere, has continuously eluded arrest and his whereabouts remain unknown.
This report is government's first effort at documenting what happened on that day 14 years later.
The report comes in the wake of a petition by the orphans of the people killed in the massacre demanding to know exactly what could have happened to their parents.
On the 17th of March 2000, a cult leader burnt over 600 people in what came to be known as the continent's biggest religious murder. The man behind the killings, Kibwetere, has continuously eluded arrest and his whereabouts remain unknown.
This report is government's first effort at documenting what happened on that day 14 years later.
The report comes in the wake of a petition by the orphans of the people killed in the massacre demanding to know exactly what could have happened to their parents.
On the 17th of March 2000, a cult leader burnt over 600 people in what came to be known as the continent's biggest religious murder. The man behind the killings, Kibwetere, has continuously eluded arrest and his whereabouts remain unknown.
This report is government's first effort at documenting what happened on that day 14 years later.
The report comes in the wake of a petition by the orphans of the people killed in the massacre demanding to know exactly what could have happened to their parents.
REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE AND
INTERNAL AFFAIRS ON THE PETITION BY THE ORPHANS OF THE VICTIMS OF THE KANUNGU CHURCH INFERNOS JULY 2014 1 2 1.0 Introduction: On Tuesday 4 th September 2012, a petition premised on rule 29 of the Rules of Procedure was presented before this ouse by on! "r! #aryomunsi $hris %&R', (in)i*i $ounty +ast, on behalf of the orphans of the -ictims of the infamous inferno at the $hurch of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the Ten $ommandments %$'RT$, in (anun.u of 1/ th 'arch 2000! This petition was duly referred to the Parliamentary $ommittee on "efence and 0nternal 12airs for consideration and the $ommittee hereby reports! 2.0 Background On 'arch 1/ th 2000, a tra.ic 3re bro)e out at the premises of the church of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the 10 $ommandments of 4od at &yabu.oto in (anun.u district claimin. an estimated 500 people! This $hurch is said to ha-e been led by a one 6oseph (ibwetere! 7urther in-esti.ations prompted by this inferno unearthed hundreds of other cases of cult related deaths e8empli3ed by .ra-es in #ushenyi and (ampala districts brin.in. the cumulati-e death toll to about 1000! Se-en months later on "ecember 2 nd , 2000, the 4o-ernment of 9.anda instituted a se-en:member 6udicial $ommission of 0n;uiry led by 6ustice 1u.ustus (ania to in-esti.ate the 'arch 1/ th , 2000 inferno! The other 'embers of the $ommission included< "r! +milio #!=! O-u.a, Prof! Peter 'ato-u, and Re-! $anon 'u.arura 'utana, then $haplain of St! 7rancis $hapel at 'a)erere 9ni-ersity, Re-! 7r! "r! =awrence =u.olobi Ssemusu, then $haplain of 9.anda 'artyrs 9ni-ersity &)o*i, "r! 'ar.aret 'un.herera %then $hairperson, 9.anda 'edical 1ssociation,, $hristopher &do*ireho %a lawyer,, and one Sara3yano #i.irwen)ya! 1t the pronouncement of the $ommission of 0n;uiry, 4en! 'oses 1li, the then Second "eputy Prime 'inister and 'inister of 0nternal 12airs informed the public that< the ob>ecti-es of this in;uest were< to de3ne a cult, establish what happened at (anun.u, and re-eal the perpetrators of the murders, to establish if there was any la8ity on the ? part of any .o-ernment department @that could ha-e led to the tra.edyA, and recommend ways of a-oidin. future recurrences, to ascertain if there were similar .roups still operatin. in the country and recommend ways of dealin. with them! The >udicial commission of 0n;uiry was to submit its 3ndin.s to its appointin. authority within si8 months!
owe-er todate, the public awaits the outcome of this 6udicial $ommission of 0n;uiry with speculation rife that this $ommission of in;uiry ne-er e-er attained its set ob>ecti-es as hitherto enumerated! 1s will later be discussed in this report, the $ommittee did not 3nd any e-eidence of any wor) by the said >udicial commission of in;uiry! 1-ailable information indicates that those who >oined the 'embership of this ill:fated $hurch, many of whom perished in the aforementioned inferno, were either inBuenced by the $hurch authorities to sell o2 their personal property and hand o-er the proceeds there:from to the church leadership alle.edly in preparation for the end of the world or -oluntarily did so! a-in. perished in the inferno, the said $hurch followers are said to ha-e left behind no property at all for their sur-i-in. family members! The petitioners claim to be part of the sur-i-in. family 'embers of some of the -ictims of the inferno! a-in. alle.edly attempted to see) help, albeit in -ain, from -arious public oCces includin., (anun.u "istrict =ocal 4o-ernment, the former 'inisters of 0nternal 12airs and the one of "isaster Preparedness, as well as from is +8cellency the President, the petitioners opted to petition Parliament, hence this petition! 3.0 PRAYERS OF THE PETITIONERS
The petitioners prayed that< 1, Parliament directs the 'inister of 0nternal 12airs to present a report of the death that occurred on or about 1/ th 'arch, 2000 from the $hurch of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the 10 $ommandments of 4od at &yabu.oto in (anun.u "istrict and other associated camps of the church led by 6oseph (ibwetere! 2, Parliament directs 4o-ernment to resettle your petitioners who were left homeless by the -ictims who died in the (anun.u inferno on or 4 about 1/ 'arch 2000 in the church of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the 10 $ommandments of 4od! ?, Parliament ur.es 4o-ernment to de-elop a policy to entitle and enable -ictims who ha-e su2ered from the losses attributable to ne.li.ent acts or omissions on the part of 4o-ernment or its oCcials in respect of the death of the church of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the 10 $ommandments of 4od to reco-er some bene3t or compensation from 4o-ernment! 4, Parliament directs 4o-ernment to secure funds to be e8tended to your petitioners as a form of start:up capital to enable them start a settled and producti-e life! .0 !ETHO"O#O$Y 0n the consideration of the petition, the $ommittee< i,! eld meetin.s with the followin.< 1! !+ Doweri (a.uta 'use-eni :President of the Republic of 9.anda 2! on! 4en! 1ronda &ya)airima:'inister of 0nternal 12airs ?! on! 'uruuli 'u)asa: 'inister for Security 4! on! 1mb! #aba 6ames:The 'inister of State for 0nternal 12airs E! on! "r! $hris #aryomunsi %'P (in)i*i +ast,< 5! 4en! (ale (ayihura: The 0nspector 4eneral of Police< /! 104P 4race 1)ullo: "irector $00"< F! 104P 4race Turya.umanawe: "irector Operations, 9.anda Police 7orce< 9! 104P 1ndrew 7! (aweesi: $ommander ('P 10! S$P 4odfrey 'usana: "eputy "irector $00" 11! 1$P $hristine &andin.: "eputy "irector uman Ri.hts and =e.al Ser-ices:9.anda Police 7orce 12! 1mb! (an.wa.ye 4abriel:the $hairman of the &ational &4O #oard< 1?! The Petitioners led by 0ddi #oa*, 9mtoni "oreen and Turyatemba Sulaiman< 14! 'r! Ganyiha 7rancis:the Secretary &ational &4O #oard< 1E! 'isha)i Rwabutoni*e: 'ember &ational &4O #oard< 15! 'r! 6uu)o (asiita:The "eputy Resident "istrict $ommissioner (anun.u district< E 1/! 1 section of (anun.u "istrict =ocal 4o-ernment oCcials namely< 'uhumu*a 7:"istrict $ouncilor and $hairperspon Production, 'a.e*i +mmy #yaru.aba:"ristrict $ouncillor, 6acinta (atabo, 1F! The "istrict Police $ommander %"P$, (anun.u:1SP 'uhan.i +dison ii,! Re-iewed the followin. documents< a, The Report of the 9.anda uman Ri.hts $ommission on the (anun.u inferno< 2002, b, Report on the death of persons in (anun.u inferno -ide $00" HTRS +I12/I2000 %(anun.u $R# F?I2000, c, Jo)es, Richard! 2009! 4hosts of (anun.uK 7ertility, Secrecy and +8chan.e in the 4reat =a)es of +ast 1frica! (ampala, 9.andaK 7ountain Publishers! iii,! 7ield -isits to the (anun.u district 19 th L 2? rd September 201? %.0 FIN"IN$S %.1 THE ESSEN&E OF &'#TS AN" THE &'#TI& NAT'RE OF THE &!RT& There is a bi. -olume of a-ailable information on the operations of the $hurch of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the Ten $ommandments of 4od %$'RT$,! 'ost of this information was compiled after the 1/ th 'arch 2000 inferno! 1n analysis of this information points to some salient features of this ill:fated church most of which are a)in to cults! 1 cult can be construed as a system of reli.ious -eneration and de-otion directed toward a particular 3.ure or ob>ect! 0t is also noteworthy that besides >ust cults, there are doomsday cults too! M"oomsday cultM is an e8pression used to describe .roups who belie-e in 1pocalypticism and 'illenarianism, and can refer both to .roups that prophesy catastrophe and destruction, and to those that attempt to brin. it about! To draw parallels between the $'RT$ and doomsday cults, it is imperati-e to del-e into the -ery nature of the $'RT$! %.2 Pro()*+, o- a cata+tro()ic *nd 5 The $'RT$ ri.ht from inception was premised on the calculated belief that the end of the world was imminent hence the need to prepare for this apocalyptic end! Perhaps the most elaborate historical perspecti-e of the $'RT$ was pro-ided to the $ommittee by on! 'uruli 'u)asa:the 'inister for Security who traced the e-olution of this church to 19F0 with the alle.ed reception of a -ision from the Jir.in 'ary by a one #ulandina #u*i.ye at &yabu.oto Roc) in Rwanyabin.i ills, &ya)ishenyi, Rubabo, Ru)un.iri district and the subse;uent emer.ence of the &yabu.oto Sisters who later metermophosi*ed into the $'RT$! This -ision was about the end of the world by the year 2000 1-ailable literature indicates that the early founders of the 'o-ement included< 1n.elina 'i.isha, $redonia 'werinde, 4audensia (amuswa, 7ulumera, Robert 'u.isha, 4audensia Rutande)ire and 9rsula (yomuhan.i! #etween 19F9 and 199E the 'o-ement attracted more recruits includin. 6oseph (ibwetere, 7r! "ominic (ataribabo, 7r! 6oseph 'ary (asapurari and 6ohn (ama.ara and witnessed tremendous .rowth as e-idenced by establishment of branches in nei.hbourin. areas of Rutooma, Ru.a*i, (ya)a, Rubiri*i to mention a few! Ghereas doomsday was initially declared for ?1 st "ecember 1999 and that the $hurch was a)in to &oahNs 1r) 1 , that prophesy pro-ed futile promptin. deferral to the period 15 th L 1F th 'arch 2000 and indeed 1/ th 'arch 2000 became the date for the now infamous (anun.u inferno! %.3 'n.a/*ring co00it0*nt and 1*2i*- in it+ 2*ad*r3+ 1*2i*- +,+t*04 id*o2og,4 and (ractic*+ a+ t)* Trut). 7rom the precedin. narrati-e, the do.matic belief in the prophesy about the apocalyptic end of the world is symptomatic of the cultic orientation of the $'RT$ %. T)* di+courag*0*nt and (uni+)0*nt o- 5u*+tioning4 dou1t4 and di++*nt 0t is noteworthy that in the aftermath of the inferno, se-eral mass .ra-es were disco-ered in -arious premises of the cult leaders! The Police report for instance re-eals that< 1 &oahNs 1r) is the -essel in the 4enesis Bood narrati-e %The #iblical #oo) of 4enesis chapters 5L9, by which &oah sa-es himself, his family, and a remnant of all the worldOs animals from the Bood! / a, 1EE bodies were e8humed at the residence of Re-! 7r! "ominic (ataribaho in #ushenyi district, b, 1E? bodies were e8humed at #uhun.a cult church in Ru)un.iri, c, F1 bodies were e8humed at Rusho>wa cults church in #ushenyi, d, EE bodies were e8humed in a residence at #u*i.a in (ampala 0t has been ar.ued that the futility of the initial prophesy of the end of the world on "ecember ?1 st 1999 precipitated -arious ;uestions and doubts amon. some followers and it is belie-ed that such doubters were brutally murdered to stem any possible dissent! 0nfact the $ommittee was informed that in the aftermath of the futility of the initial prophesy some doubters demanded for a refund of the proceeds of the sale of their property, one of the $hurch leaders: $redonia 'werinde initiated the recordin. of the names of those who were demandin. such refunds! 0t is hi.hly possible that some of such records were used to systematically identify and eliminate dissenters! %.% T)* r*2ianc* on 0ind6a2t*ring (ractic*+ 7+uc) a+ a +trict ru2* o- +i2*nc*4 0*ditation4 c)anting4 +(*aking in tongu*+4 d*nunciation +*++ion+4 and d*1i2itating .ork routin*+ and i0(o/*ri+)0*nt o- -o22o.*r+8 to +u((r*++ dou1t+ a1out t)* grou( and it+ 2*ad*r7+8. 1-ailable information shows that the $'RT$ instituted a strict rule of silence amon. its members and this is belie-ed to ha-e been a strate.y to curtail any ;uestions or propa.ation of any potentially ;uestionable ideas amon. its 'embers! Other salient features of cults that 3t within the nature of the $'RT$ include< the elitist nature of its leadership that often predetermines how the rest of the 'embers should thin), as e8empli3ed by the hi.hly educated leaders such as 6oseph (ibwetere and "ominic (ataribabo who were accomplished and hi.hly learned people! The $ommittee is stron.ly of the -iew that the $'RT$ was indeed cultic and therefore a lot of its acti-ities should be construed as such! %.9 FREE"O! OF :ORSHIP IN '$AN"A AN" THE ATTEN"ANT OB#I$ATIONS AN" RESPONSIBI#ITIES OF &ITI;ENS AN" THE STATE F 0t is noteworthy that 9.anda is a secular state for which the national $onstitution prescribes no state reli.ion! 1rticle / of the 199E $onstitution states that P9.anda shall not adopt a State reli.ion!Q +-ery 9.andan is free to subscribe to whate-er faith or reli.ion they want! 1rticle 29 %c , pro-ides that +-ery person shall ha-e the ri.ht to R freedom to practice any reli.ion and manifest such practice which shall include the ri.ht to belon. to and participate in the practices of any reli.ious body or or.ani*ation in a manner consistent with this $onstitutionQ! 1s such there is .enerally no interference by .o-ernment in a2airs of worship and reli.ion! 7reedom of reli.ion and worship is a manifestation of the belief that human bein.s ha-e the ability to decide their faith and belief systems in consonance with their conscience! 0t is therefore an indi-idualNs choice when it comes to decisions related to when, how and who they want to worship! The $ommittee found no e-idence that the 'embers of the $'RT$ were coerced into >oinin. that particular belief system! Ghether or not they were aware of the $hurchNs cultic orientations may be debatable but that does not in anyway relie-e the -ictims of the inferno, sa-e for the child -ictims, from the responsibility of usin. their discretion to either e8it the 'embership of the $hurch or alert law enforcement authorities! The $ommittee belie-es that the relationship between the state and its citi*ens brin.s with it responsibilities and obli.ations of either party! Ghile the state has the responsibility and obli.ation to ensure security, ser-ice deli-ery, protection of ri.hts and the .eneral welfare of its citi*ens, it would be foolhardy for citi*ens to throw caution to the wind by sacri3cin. their discretion in ma)in. choices for matters innately personal such as reli.ion and hope that the state is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent to remotely fore:stall the possible ne.ati-e rami3cations of rec)less and often impulsi-e indi-idual decisions e8cept the children! 0t as for instance been ar.ued that the $'RT$ was re.istered as an &4O in the mid 1990s and therefore the &4O board had the responsibility to e2ecti-ely monitor and re.ulate the acti-ities of the $hurch! #ut the $ommittee notes that in the case of this $hurch, it o-ertly e8uded si.ns of bein. law abidin. and its pro8imity to some people in positions of authority aided its re.istration as an &4O! The report of the 9.anda uman Ri.hts $ommission titled PThe (anun.u 'assacreQ, states that< 9 POri.inally, the state did not appro-e of (ibwetere cult acti-ities! 1s far bac) as 1994, Doro)amu (amacerere, the R"$ of Ru)un.iri, refused to support the cultNs re.istration as an &4O! e had also closed its school but when he was transferred to (asese, within two months of his departure, the cultNs leadership had already con-inced his successor, (ita)a 4awera into supportin. it and layin. a foundation stone on one of their buildin.s at the cultNs head;uarters! The leaders and followers appeared to be law abidin. citi*ens yet with inherent deception! They participated in -arious community and ci-ic acti-ities includin. -otin. durin. elections! The $ult was re.istered as an &4O in 199/ and later incorporated as a company in 199F! 0t appears that the relationship between the cult and 'uta*indwa 1mooti was mutually bene3cial! 0t is common )nowled.e in (anun.u that the cult had assi.ned two PnunsQ to do domestic wor) at 1IR"$ 'uta*indwaNs residence permanently! 0t is also true that on the fateful day i!e! 1/ 'arch 2000 Re-! 'uta*indwa had tra-elled to (anun.u from =yantonde L his new station L to attend a farewell party or.anised for him by the cult leadership! The cult leaders were )nown for their P.enerosityQ! 7ormer R"$ (amacerere informed the team that after closin. their school and refusin. to support their application for re.istration as an &4O (ibwetere, 'werinde and (ataribabo tried to bribe him! They went to his oCce and o2ered him Pa bi. en-elopeQ which he re>ected! Presumably this was e8tended to other leadersIauthorities in (anun.u and Ru)un.iri! 1fter re.istration as an &4O, the cult was free to le.ally operate in di2erent parts of the country li)e Rutooma, #uhun.a, &ya)isho>wa, Ru.a*i and #u*i.a in (ampala! These centres were used for retreats and seminars to indoctrinate the followers of the cult! #ut it was also in these places that people were )illed and buried secretly! Ghat is astonishin. is that the cult carried out its murderous acti-ities without state detection and peopleNs sli.htest suspicion!Q 0n the circumstances, it was therefore incumbent on the indi-idual members of the $hurch e8cept the $hildren to notify law enforcement authorities of the downside of this ill:fated church to enable timely state inter-ention! 10 The $ommittee further notes that the relati-e i.norance and low literacy le-els of most of the 'embers of this $hurch as compared to its hi.hly elitist leaders, created a do.matic en-ironment where the followers hardly ;uestioned the -alues the $hurch was impartin. unto them! This coupled with the fact that the 'embers were under instruction not to communicate -erbally rendered any -iable form of information collection by the a.encies tas)ed with monitorin. the &4O futile! owe-er, the $ommittee also notes the need for stron.er monitorin. of the wor) of such .roups that may use the banner of faith to mete catastrophic dan.er unto unsuspectin. members of the public! The $'RT$ presented itself as a ser-ice deli-ery and faith based or.ani*ation! Ghile the ser-ice deli-ery component pro>ected it as a .ood or.ani*ation, the faith:based dimension was shrouded in secrecy! The $ommittee notes that e-en when the oCcials from the &ational &4O #oard -isited one of the sites of the $'RT$ prior to the inferno, the followers could not communicate -erbally! %.< !ONITORIN$ OF N$OS The $ommittee notes that the &ational &4O #oard at that time was so wea) and remains wea) todate! Gith limited staCn., an inade;uate bud.et and the absence of de3niti-e monitorin. tools for the plethora of &4Os, the &ational &4O #oard ur.ently needs stren.thenin. so as to bolster its eCciency and e2ecti-eness! The $ommittee further notes that prior to the 2005 amendment of the &4O Re.istration 1ct, the &ational &4O #oard ma>orly played the role of re.isterin. &4Os! Ghile the 2005 amendment brou.ht in the additional responsibility of monitorin., there is limited capability to enable it e2ecti-ely play the watchdo. role! Ghile an impendin. amendment to the &4O Re.istration 1ct has been muted by the 'inister of 0nternal 12airs, the $ommittee recommends that such an amendment should also re-iew the caliber and competencies of those who will be 'embers of the #oard and e8pand a-enues for coordination in monitorin.! 11 0n order to e2ecti-ely forestall the reoccurrence of such catastrophes, it is imperati-e to stren.then monitorin., sur-eillance and .reater ci-ic awareness! 9.0 &ONSI"ERATION OF THE SPE&IFI& PRAYERS OF THE PETITIONERS 9.1 PRAYER 1: "E!AN"S FOR THE REPORT INTO THE &'#T "EATHS The PetitionersN 3rst prayer was that Parliament directs the 'inister of 0nternal 12airs to present a report of the death that occurred on or about 1/ th 'arch 2000 from the church of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the 10 $ommandments of 4od at &yabu.oto in (anun.u "istrict and other associated camps of the church led by 6oseph (ibwetere! On this prayer, the $ommittee notes that there was more than >ust one in;uiry by the 4o-ernment of 9.anda into the inferno! #esides the >udicial $ommission of 0n;uiry earlier alluded to, there was also Police in-esti.ation! owe-er durin. interfaces between the $ommittee and the Petitioners, it emer.ed that the report of the PetitionersN interest was that of the 6udicial $ommission of 0n;uiry, thou.h the $ommittee set out to unearth both reports! The $ommittee learnt that besides the 6udicial commission of in;uiry earlier mentioned in this report, there was also a police in-esti.ation which remains inconclusi-e todate! 1ppearin. before the $ommittee, the 04P informed the $ommittee that in;uiries into the inferno are still pendin. and any useful information to enable its lo.ical conclusion were welcome! This essentially implies that there cannot be a full report on an in-esti.ation that is still incomplete! This lea-es the only other option of a report on the inferno as that of the >udicial $ommission of 0n;uiry! 1ppearin. before the $ommittee 1 st 1pril 2014, the 'inister of 0nternal 12airs:4en! 1ronda &ya)airima, the State 'inister for 0nternal 12airs: 1mb! #aba 6ames and the PS 0nternal 12airs:"r! (a.oda Stephen stated that they were neither aware of the appointment the said 6udicial $ommission of 0n;uiry nor its acti-ities let alone its report! 12 7or the case of the Police in-esti.ation, the $ommittee established that it was carried out after the 'arch 1/ th 2000 inferno! The $ommittee notes that the 3ndin.s of the Police is in tandem with other witnessesN accounts of the pre:inferno narrati-es detailin. who the leaders were, the areas where the cult operated, the modus:operandi of the cult and the number of bodies disco-ered in -arious locations! 0t is important to note is that on 5 th 1pril 2000, 0nternational Garrants of 1rrest were issued a.ainst all the si8 suspects but todate they ha-e not been arrested! These are< 6oseph (ibwetere, Re-! 7r! "ominic (ataribaho, Re-! Sr! $ledonia 'werinde, Re-! 7r! 6oseph 'ary (asapurali, Re-! 6ohn (ama.ara and Re-! Sr! 9rsla (omuhan.i! The $ommittee also notes that prior to the inferno, in 6anuary 2000, a complaint by a one 'r! $onrad #aryamwisa)i to the then Senior 1ssistant $ommissioner of Police 6ohn #! O)umu, a Pri-ate Secretary to the President responsible for $0" 12airs that there was an ille.al e8istence of a cult )nown as &aba.oti reli.ion and that the sect was operatin. within (anun.u, #u.on.i and (ashewahero! e alle.ed that the sect headed by a one (ibwetere was )idnappin. and retainin. youn. children a.ainst their will as well as those of their parents! e stated that the children who passed away were buried in a mass .ra-e! 0n his letter dated 2E th 6anuary 2000, S1$P 6!#! O)umu directed the "P$ Ru)un.iri to 3nd out the truth about the acti-ities of the rin. leaders of the cult and to ascertain whether the sect is re.istered or not! The then "P$ Ru)un.iri:SP 'u.i*i Patric) in his response letter dated E th 7ebruary 2000 to the Pri-ate Secretary to the President responsible for $0" 12airs, copied to the R"$ and =$J $hairman Ru)un.iri stated that the sect was not ille.al and was re.istered as an &4O! e also stated that there were cases of children >oinin. the or.ani*ation -oluntarily without the consent of their parents and that it was not true that the children were )illed and buried in mass .ra-es! owe-er not lon. after the "P$Ns report, there was an inferno on 1/ th 'arch 2000! $onse;uently in;uiries were instituted into the alle.ations that the "P$ Ru)un.iri had not carried out thorou.h in-esti.ations into the acti-ities of the cult! The case 3le was submitted to "PP for perusal and le.al ad-ice! 0n his opinion dated 2 nd October 2000, the "PP stated that 1? there was no e-idence to support alle.ations of ne.lect of duty a.ainst the "P$ and therefore ad-ised no criminal prosecution of the "P$! Re.ardin. the inconclusi-eness of the Police in-esti.ation, the $ommittee notes the need for .reater momentum in these in-esti.ations so as to forestall the subsistin. an8iety! 9.2 PRAYER 2: RESETT#E!ENT OF PETITIONERS The petitionersN second prayer was that Parliament directs 4o-ernment to resettle them because they were left homeless by the -ictims who died in the (anun.u inferno on or about 1/ th 'arch 2000 in the church of the 'o-ement for the Restoration of the 10 $ommandments of 4od! The $ommittee notes that the adult -ictims of the inferno were not forcefully conscripted into the $hurch but rather -oluntarily >oined and for those who sold o2 their property includin. land and later remitted the proceeds of such sales to the $hurch, they did so -oluntarily! This therefore raises the issue of what the role of 4o-ernment is in resettlin. the dependants or relati-es of people who -oluntarily sold o2 their land! 0n this case, the Petitioners cannot claim resettlement as an entitlement because their benefactors made -oluntary decisions on the disposal of property that was their own! The decision on resettlement therefore lies at the discretion of 4o-ernment and can only be on compassionate .rounds! The rationale for compassionate assistance is that some of the -ictims of the inferno included minors and others who had been dri-en into po-erty by the treachery of the cult leaders! 0f the +8ecuti-e can establish the .enuine sur-i-ors of the inferno, then the consideration for resettlement on compassionate .rounds may come in handy! The $ommittee is of the -iew that any such resettlement on compassionate .rounds, if deemed 3t should be within the ancestral areas of the eli.ible bene3ciaries! The $ommittee also notes that the petitioners narrowed themsel-es to orphans and yet there may be other relati-es of the -ictims of the inferno who may ha-e been ad-ersely a2ected by the cult deaths! 4oin. forward, there is need to broaden the scope of the potential bene3ciaries of any such compassionate assistance! 14 0n addition, information a-ailable to the $ommittee indicates that most of the -ictims of the inferno mo-ed to the premises of the $'RT$ to.ether with most if not all of their immediate family! This therefore implies that the petitioners may be relati-es of some of the -ictims of the inferno but whether or not they were indeed direct dependants of those -ictims of the inferno remains a sub>ect of in-esti.ation! 'orestill, considerin. that there is no e-idence that "&1 tests were carried out on all the -ictims of the inferno, it would not be practically possible to scienti3cally determine the eli.ibility of any possible bene3ciaries of any relocation and resettlement plan! The $ommittee notes that by the time of the inferno in 2000, 9.anda had not yet ac;uired "&1 testin. capabilities implyin. that if it had to be done, then the samples had to be Bown to other more ad-anced >urisdictions implyin. a hu.e cost implication! 0nfact durin. the course of the in;uiry, s;uabbles emer.ed amon.st the petitioners o-er who indeed lost relati-es in the inferno: an indicator of possible opportunism! 0t a.ainst this bac).round that the $ommittee recommends that the Petitioners be accorded compassionate assistance upon ri.orous and successful -eri3cation of eli.ibility! 9.3 PRAYER 3: THE "E=E#OP!ENT OF A PO#I&Y TO ENTIT#E AN" ENAB#E =I&TI!S :HO HA=E S'FFERE" FRO! THE #OSSES ATTRIB'TAB#E TO NE$#I$ENT A&TS OR O!ISSIONS ON THE PART OF $O=ERN!ENT OR ITS OFFI&IA#S IN RESPE&T OF THE "EATH OF THE &H'R&H OF THE !O=E!ENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE 10 &O!!AN"!ENTS OF $O" TO RE&O=ER SO!E BENEFIT OR &O!PENSATION FRO! $O=ERN!ENT. The crucial ;uestion here is whether indeed the deaths at the inferno was a result of ne.li.ence on the part of 4o-ernment and if indeed 4o-ernment bears responsibility for the -oluntary worship patterns of citi*ensS The determination of responsibility or ne.li.ence is dependent on a fully Bed.ed in-esti.ation where a.ain the results of the $ommission of in;uiry would be )ey! 1E 1s earlier noted, there were in-esti.ations into this ill:fated church and its attendant acti-ities by state a.encies prior to the inferno %refer to para 5!0, This absol-es 4o-ernment of any possible accusations of inaction or ineptness! On the issue of de-elopin. a policy, the $ommittee notes that far from what many thin) of .o-ernment policy as some written piece of literature, .o-ernment policy is basically the inactions and actions of .o-ernment and can be written or unwritten! 4o-ernment has historically compensated indi-iduals and .roups of indi-iduals for -arious losses occasioned as a result of the actions of .o-ernment! 7or instance the 1choli and lan.o war debt claimants! Therefore the part of this prayer that see)s for the formulation of a policy on compensation is redundant! Parliament therefore cannot start awardin. compensation 9. PRAYER : PAR#IA!ENT TO "IRE&T $O=ERN!ENT TO SE&'RE F'N"S TO BE E>TEN"E" TO YO'R PETITIONERS AS A FOR! OF START6'P &APITA# TO ENAB#E THE! START A SETT#E" AN" PRO"'&TI=E #IFE. This too raises ethical ;uestions .i-en that .o-ernment already deli-ers non:discriminatory ser-ices to its citi*ens includin. inter-entions such as Bona-Bagagawale and the youth -enture capital fund! The $ommittee notes that this prayer is a)in to prayer 2 abo-e and in addition to the earlier recommendation< the $ommittee implores the e8ecuti-e to prioriti*e ci-ic education and inculcate in the citi*enry the -alues of hard wor) and pro.ress! This prayer smac)s of the Pen-elopeQ mentality where citi*ens wait for handouts from .o-ernment instead of wor)in. to transform their li-es! Pro-idin. for a separate fund for such cate.ories of people will imply the proliferation of funds and thereby >eopardi*e the national plannin. and de-elopment process and its inherent ob>ecti-es! < OTHER $ENERA# RE&O!!EN"ATIONS 15 Str*ngt)*ning t)* Nationa2 N$O Board: The $ommittee notes that since the &ational &4O #oard is mandated to re.ister and monitor the operations of &4Os, there is need to stren.then it so as to bolster its eCciency and e2ecti-eness! 7rom the $ommitteeNs interface with the representati-es of the &ational &4O #oard, it was clear that the &ational &4O board is .rossly understa2ed and lowly resourced .rossly inhibitin. its eCciency and e2ecti-eness! This should be coupled with the establishment of functional syner.ies between the &ational &4O #oard and other state institutions both at the centre at local .o-ernments so as to bolster the monitorin. of the acti-ities of &on State 1ctors! ? &ON&#'SION The $ommittee recommends that this report be adopted! 1/