The lot of 'born again believers' caused a lot of concern and uproar from relatives and community members when they mysteriously disappeared in March 2023.
Conned: 80 Ugandans pay millions to meet Jesus in Ethiopia
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has safely repatriated a total of 80 Ugandans from Ethiopia. Originally from Soroti, the returnees were lured to sell their properties including land to enable them travel to meet Jesus Christ in the foreign land.
The lot of ‘born again believers’ caused a lot of concern and uproar from relatives and community members when they mysteriously disappeared in March 2023.
Simon Mudenyi, the spokesperson at the Ministry of Internal Affairs says the group was convinced by a one Simon Opolot, a leader of a local church named Christ Disciples Church, to sell their properties since the world was coming to an end.
Opolot told the naïve believers that he received a message from God in form of a vision, telling him that Jesus would camp in Ethiopia for a while to pick up those interested. He told them to pray and fast for 40 days while in Ethiopia as they prepare to meet God.
“The returnees have said pastor Opolot convinced them to fast for 40 days so that they can meet Jesus on the 41st day. The condition was that to meet Jesus, they needed to be in Ethiopia, and according to him, the world would immediately end,” Mundeyi said
He says they were convinced that the world was coming to an end and Jesus was ready to collect the chosen ones in Ethiopia.
“These were duped that Jesus was to end in Ethiopia to pick them and take them to heaven. Surprisingly, some of them are elite, teachers and civil servants among others,“ he adds.
Mundeyi says while in Ethiopia, the authorities realized they are part of a cult and detained members moving in accumulating groups, before contacting Uganda to repatriate them.
“They were received through our immigration offices at Nakabat and Amudat. They will be helped to reunite with their families.” Mudenyi says
Last month, over 150 believers in the neighbouring Kenya died under similar circumstances when a cultist pastor identified as Paul Makenzie told them to fast until they meet Jesus in heaven.
Conned: 80 Ugandans pay millions to meet Jesus in Ethiopia
