"Bushara Followers Get Ready for 'Last Supper'"

by Elizabeth Kameo ("New Vision," October 3, 2000)

The Police is investigating reports that Wilson Bushara's World Message Last Warning Church followers are fundraising for a 'last' supper, which all the cult followers are to attend before December 25.
Police spokesman Asuman Mugenyi yesterday said local authorities in Katoke and Wansalanji in Luweero said, "The believers are secretly soliciting funds from the cult members in preparation for a last supper they say will take place before December 25."
He said each believer is required to pay sh23,000, which will be used in preparation of the supper and administration costs.
According to Mugenyi, the believers of the defunct World Message Last Warning Church are preparing an event similar to that of Kanungu.
"These people believe and are preaching that Bushara will soon be released and that they will have a last supper similar to that of Kanungu before they go to heaven," Mugenyi said.
He said the Police were trying to find out where the supper is to be held and who is involved in the preparations.
Followers of the cult, mostly women and children, have regrouped in Nakaseke, Luweero after they were dispersed by the Police last year.
The believers, mainly from Sembabule, Kiboga, Masindi, Hoima, Mubende, Luweero, Rakai, Masaka, Bushenyi and Luweero districts are renting cheap houses in Katoke and Wasalanji. Mugenyi said many of the believers have not returned home and are waiting for Bushara to be released.
He said although they have no specific church, they still carry on with their cult activities.
Police raided Bushara's camp in September last year and dispersed hundreds of followers and rescued several children.
Bushara, who was arrested early this year by the Police, is on remand in Luzira Prison on charges of defiling two girls and holding an illegal assembly.

"Bushara Followers Defy Police Order"

Frederick Kiwanuka ("New Vision," September 28, 2000)

Followers of the remanded Luweero self-styled prophet, Wilson Bushara, have defied the police and regrouped in Wakyato Sub-county, Luweero, security sources said on Tuesday. Police said about 53 members of the banned World Message Last Warning Church continued to pray and sing in a makeshift church they had constructed at Katooke village in Wakyato Sub-county.
Luweero Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Edward Masiga on Tuesday confirmed that the cult members had regrouped after their Church was banned last year. "I have heard the rumour. We shall go and disperse them again," Masiga said. Police said the members had regrouped under James Muhanguzi, one of Bushara's aides, whom the remanded cult leader had ordained as a bishop. An estimated 1000 followers of the cult were last September dispersed by riot police from their camp at Bukoto village in Nakaseke. The church leader, was then arrested in Iganga, charged in Luwere court and committed to the High Court for trial on charges of defilement and holding an illegal assembly.
He was then remanded at Butuntumula prison. Bushara often told his followers to give away their property because the world was ending last June.

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