Parliament has released the report on the petition by the survivors of the Kanungu inferno. The petition was presented to Parliament by families of the victims of the inferno through Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
The petition requested Parliament to direct the Ministry of Internal affairs to investigate the inferno and to urge the government to acquire funds to support the surviving families of the victims.
The victims of the inferno were persuaded by the cult leader, Joseph Kibwetere, to sell off their property and burn themselves to death in preparation of the judgement day; leaving their families with nothing after the inferno.
The report however, challenged the authenticity of direct dependants because there were no DNA tests done, and the fact that the victims had willingly sold off their property and given the proceeds to the cult. The report highlighted that the government could only step in to offer compassionate support.
Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, MP Kinkizi County East, challenged the Report citing that the government did not play its part of protecting its citizens.
“The government through the Resident District Commissioner accepted to register the cult as an organisation despite its suspicious operations,” Honourable Baryomunsi said.
Hon. Nabilah Ssempala, highlighted the issue of insecurity in the country.
“There is insecurity all over the country and especially in Kampala because according to the report some of the victims’ bodies were recovered in a residence in Buziga,” Honourable Ssempala said.
Over 1000 people are suspected to have died in the inferno. The leader of the cult, Joseph Kibwetere is still at large.