In the lush hills of Uganda during the 1980s and 90s, a new religious group claimed to offer clarity in a time of social and political upheaval. Calling themselves The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, the leaders preached a return to strict biblical law and obedience to visions of the Virgin Mary. At its heart were promises of purity, repentance, and survival of the coming apocalypse. But what began as a community of Marian visionaries and devout followers soon spiraled into secrecy, deprivation, and control. Members were forbidden to speak, forced into silence as a form of obedience. Prophecies of the end of the world kept believers loyal, even as leaders demanded more sacrifices of land, possessions, and absolute devotion. On the eve of the year 2000, when the world was preparing to celebrate a new millennium, tragedy struck. Instead of salvation, over 700 members of the movement perished in what at first looked like a mass suicide, but soon revealed signs of something even more sinister. This episode explores how the promise of divine protection became a tool for manipulation, and how one of the deadliest cult tragedies in modern history unfolded in near silence on the global stage.
Part 1 – Prophets in the Hills
Part 2 – Building the Ark
Part 3 – The Commandments Rewritten
Part 4 – Countdown to the End
Part 5 – The Fire of Kanungu
Part 6 – Ashes and Lessons
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place.
New episodes weekly
Listener stories always welcome
Anonymity guaranteed.
Listener stories: hiddencultspodcast@gmail.com
International Resources- International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
https://www.icsahome.com
Provides information, recovery support, referrals, and events for survivors and concerned families. - Open Minds Foundation
https://www.openmindsfoundation.org
Offers education and support about undue influence and manipulative organizations. - The Hotline (USA – Domestic Abuse)
https://www.thehotline.org
📞 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 support for victims of domestic, emotional, and religious abuse. - Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan)
https://freedomofmind.com
Resources on cult recovery, exit counseling, and mind control education. - FaithTrust Institute
https://www.faithtrustinstitute.org
Support and resources for survivors of religious abuse, especially within faith communities.
United States- Cult Recovery Hotline (ICSA)
📞 1-239-514-3081
Referral and support line for ex-members, families, and researchers. - RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
https://www.rainn.org
📞 1-800-656-4673 — Confidential support for trauma...
