Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002, Page 73
still reportedly regard him as a guru. While Kenji Kobayashi has vowed to quit Life Space
after receiving the suspended sentence, the victim's eldest daughter continues to work with
the group, according to people close to the cult. (Kyodo, Japan Times, 2/602, Internet)
Living Stream Ministry
American Connection to Bible "Smuggling? /China
Living Stream Ministry is one of several Orange Country CA-based organizations allegedly
spreading the Gospel by smuggling Bibles to countries like China, where the government
labels the books "propaganda materials" and has indicted Hong Kong businessman Li
Guangqiang for "using a cult to undermine the enforcement of law," a capital offense. (John
Gottlesohn, Orange County Register, 1/22/02, Internet)
Ndawula
Ndawula "Cult" Leaders Charged in Uganda
Following a police raid on his camps, Ndawula cult leader John Musoke Ssemanda [sic], two
of his priests, and a priestess, have been charged with managing an unlawful society, while
eighty-eight of their followers have been cleared of criminal liability and released.
Authorities fear that the group may go the way of Joseph Kibwetere's Movement for the
Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God [when more than 800 people in that
millennial group died, apparently murdered, in 2000.] Ndawula has said that people are
attracted to his spiritual powers. Some come to him when they are mad [crazy], he said,
"and I heal them." Follower Godfrey Ssebakijje, one of those arrested, said: "Nobody forces
us to go to Ndawula. We go for spiritual healing."
Ssemanda, 42, who claims that he is possessed by the spirit of an 18th century Buganda
king, Kabaka Ndawula, looked very thin as he stood in the dock and denied the charges.
Priestess Mary Nakalema, 26, and priests Geoffrey Wassajja and Godfrey Kizito, all
residents of Buwaali Village, also denied the charges. Ndawula followers jammed the
courtroom, and when Ssemanda left the court, on bail, supporters pumped their fists and
hugged him.
Police said that the cult has around 6,000 followers, from different tribes, some from as far
away as Tanzania, and that some members of the provincial government have been "going
to the cult." (New Vision, Kampala, Uganda, 12/21 and 22/01, Internet)
OARA – Operation and Reconnaissance Agents
Brainwashing Defense Fails Teen in Alleged OARA Group
A 16-year-old member of a would-be paramilitary group was sentenced in Fairplay, CO, to
60 years in prison for his role in the killings of a teen-age friend and the boy's grandparents.
Isaac Robin-McCain Grimes pleaded guilty in October to charges of second-degree murder
and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Tony Dutcher, 15, and his grandparents
Carl and JoAnna Dutcher. The three were found stabbed and shot to death at the
grandparents' trailer home near Guffey during the New Year's 2000 holiday. Grimes
confessed about a year ago to killing Tony Dutcher, who had been his friend.
A psychologist hired by the defense testified during the sentencing hearing that Grimes had
been brainwashed by two older defendants in the case and had been fearful that his family
would be killed if he didn't go along with the slayings. As part of a plea agreement, Grimes
will testify against Jonathan Matheny, 17, who is accused of shooting and killing the older
couple, and Simon Sue, 19, the alleged mastermind of the slayings. Glen Urban, 18, was
sentenced to two years in jail last month for being an accessory to murder.
still reportedly regard him as a guru. While Kenji Kobayashi has vowed to quit Life Space
after receiving the suspended sentence, the victim's eldest daughter continues to work with
the group, according to people close to the cult. (Kyodo, Japan Times, 2/602, Internet)
Living Stream Ministry
American Connection to Bible "Smuggling? /China
Living Stream Ministry is one of several Orange Country CA-based organizations allegedly
spreading the Gospel by smuggling Bibles to countries like China, where the government
labels the books "propaganda materials" and has indicted Hong Kong businessman Li
Guangqiang for "using a cult to undermine the enforcement of law," a capital offense. (John
Gottlesohn, Orange County Register, 1/22/02, Internet)
Ndawula
Ndawula "Cult" Leaders Charged in Uganda
Following a police raid on his camps, Ndawula cult leader John Musoke Ssemanda [sic], two
of his priests, and a priestess, have been charged with managing an unlawful society, while
eighty-eight of their followers have been cleared of criminal liability and released.
Authorities fear that the group may go the way of Joseph Kibwetere's Movement for the
Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God [when more than 800 people in that
millennial group died, apparently murdered, in 2000.] Ndawula has said that people are
attracted to his spiritual powers. Some come to him when they are mad [crazy], he said,
"and I heal them." Follower Godfrey Ssebakijje, one of those arrested, said: "Nobody forces
us to go to Ndawula. We go for spiritual healing."
Ssemanda, 42, who claims that he is possessed by the spirit of an 18th century Buganda
king, Kabaka Ndawula, looked very thin as he stood in the dock and denied the charges.
Priestess Mary Nakalema, 26, and priests Geoffrey Wassajja and Godfrey Kizito, all
residents of Buwaali Village, also denied the charges. Ndawula followers jammed the
courtroom, and when Ssemanda left the court, on bail, supporters pumped their fists and
hugged him.
Police said that the cult has around 6,000 followers, from different tribes, some from as far
away as Tanzania, and that some members of the provincial government have been "going
to the cult." (New Vision, Kampala, Uganda, 12/21 and 22/01, Internet)
OARA – Operation and Reconnaissance Agents
Brainwashing Defense Fails Teen in Alleged OARA Group
A 16-year-old member of a would-be paramilitary group was sentenced in Fairplay, CO, to
60 years in prison for his role in the killings of a teen-age friend and the boy's grandparents.
Isaac Robin-McCain Grimes pleaded guilty in October to charges of second-degree murder
and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Tony Dutcher, 15, and his grandparents
Carl and JoAnna Dutcher. The three were found stabbed and shot to death at the
grandparents' trailer home near Guffey during the New Year's 2000 holiday. Grimes
confessed about a year ago to killing Tony Dutcher, who had been his friend.
A psychologist hired by the defense testified during the sentencing hearing that Grimes had
been brainwashed by two older defendants in the case and had been fearful that his family
would be killed if he didn't go along with the slayings. As part of a plea agreement, Grimes
will testify against Jonathan Matheny, 17, who is accused of shooting and killing the older
couple, and Simon Sue, 19, the alleged mastermind of the slayings. Glen Urban, 18, was
sentenced to two years in jail last month for being an accessory to murder.
