Kampala - A young member of a Ugandan doomsday cult said he had seen the sect's leader flee before a fire in which more than 500 cult members died, newspapers reported.
But police said they had no evidence that Mr Joseph Kibwetere (68) was still at large, and had not yet launched a search. A 17-year-old named Ahimbisibwe told yesterday's New Vision newspaper that he had seen Mr Kibwetere and his deputy, a former prostitute Ms Gredonia Mwerinda, leave the compound before dawn on Friday carrying small bags. "Kibwetere and Gredonia prayed for us on Thursday night and they left the camp," said the boy, whose mother and sister were among the victims of the fire.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda yesterday ordered an inquiry into the tragedy, saying warnings that the sect was dangerous had been ignored.