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History Wikipedia Abayudaya

The sect owes its origin to Muganda military leader Semei Kakungulu. Originally, Kakungulu was converted to Christianity by British missionaries around 1880. He believed that by doing so, the British would allow him to be the chief ruler of the territories he conquered in battle for them. However, when the British limited his territory to a significantly smaller size, Kakungulu began to distance himself from them. In 1913, he became a Malachite Christian, a follower of a belief system combining Christianity, Judaism, and Christian Science. However, upon further study of the Bible, Kakungulu came to believe that the customs and laws described in the first 5 books of Moses (Torah) were quite true. When told that only Jews observe such customs, he exclaimed, "Then we will be Jewish!" In 1919, Kakungulu had become far more clearly Jewish in his practices: he circumcised his sons and himself and declared his community Jewish. According to Henry Lubega[5], "he fled to the foot of Mt. Elgon at a place called Gangama where he started a separatist sect known as Kibina Kya Bayudaya Absesiga Katonda (the Community of Jews who trust in the Lord)." The British were infuriated by such an act and effectively cut off ties with him and his followers.