Fearing a repeat of the Kanungu Kibwetere murders, the Police yesterday stormed two camps of the mysterious Ndawula cult and arrested 92 members including their leader, John Musoke Ssemanda, reports Anne Mugisa and Solomon Muyita.
The simultaneous dawn raids on the camps in Buwali village in Kakiri, Wakiso, and Rubaga in Kampala near Tal Cottages, caught the believers unawares.
The Police surrounded the camps, which the members call "Lubiri" (palace), at 4:00am as most faithful slept. Forty-four women, 48 men, a six year-old girl and a baby. Many of the believers appeared sickly and mad.
Central regional Police chief Chris Bakesiima said the cult has been under investigation by the National Security Council.
Ssemanda is referred to by his followers as "mukongozzi" Jajja Ndawula who claims to be possessed by the spirit of an 18th century Buganda king, Kabaka Ndawula.
Police chief Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala said the group, which claims to be a cultural organisation, is not registered.
He said even the Buganda government had not cleared the group.
"There has been concern. Not long ago we had the Kanungu Kibwetere incident," Katumba said.
Kibwetere's cult killed 800 members. Bakesiima said the Police have also deployed at the camps.
He said there are also people chosen by the cult members to keep watch over the property.
He said the cult has around 6,000 followers believed to be from different tribes and others come from asfar as Tanzania.
Earlier, Ndawula said at the Police that people are attracted to spiritual powers. "Some people come when they are mad and I heal them," he said.
Godfrey Ssebakijje, one of the arrested, said, "Nobody forces us to go to Ndawula. We go for spiritual healing."
Katumba said it was surprising that some ministers in the Mengo establishment have been going to the cult though there was no indication that Mengo authorised it.
He said unconfirmed reports said central government ministers have also been visiting the cult. The Police said families were breaking up as wives and young women claiming to be possessed by the spirits ran to the camps.
They said promiscuity in the camps could not be ruled out raising questions of HIV/AIDS spread.
Katumba said the people who go to camps are told as a must to put sh1000 in each of the 25 baskets laid out, per visit. He said the followers display yellow and green flags, wear leopard skins and walk on ice during their rituals claiming that the spirit Jajja Sebanakitta walks on ice and everybody must do the same to be cleansed. Katumba said the group wants to re-establish African traditional religion, plans to train an army and promises every man three wives.