By Our Reporter
A woman from Nangoma village in Matayos Constituency, Busia District, has stunned the public by claiming she is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, reincarnated in the flesh.
Judith Nafula, a devout Catholic, says she received the revelation after what she describes as a divine encounter with Jesus Christ himself. According to Nafula, a radiant light descended from heaven with Jesus at its center, who then identified her as Mother Mary.
“A light came down from heaven, and in the middle of it was Jesus. He spoke to me, asking where Mother Mary was and said he had been sent by his father, God,” Nafula recounted.
“I told him I didn’t know who Mary was. That’s when he said it was me—and that the time had come for the world to know my true identity.”
Following the encounter, Nafula says she was led by the Holy Spirit to a nearby hill, where she spent two months in solitude and divine communication. Her husband, John Wekullo, also claims to have had a matching spiritual vision, identifying him as Joseph, Mary’s biblical spouse.
But Nafula’s claims have not been warmly embraced by everyone. Her local church, disturbed by her declarations and supposed miracles, expelled her from the congregation.
“They started saying I was mad, that I had lost my mind, and they threw me out of the church,” she said.
Despite the church’s rejection, Nafula has drawn significant attention in the region. Her homestead is now a hub for dozens of believers seeking prayers and healing. Local residents claim she has healed the sick and helped women conceive.
“People are coming back to testify,” said her sister-in-law. “Those who couldn’t conceive are now pregnant, the sick are recovering. People believe she has real powers.”
While similar claims of divine identity have emerged elsewhere in East Africa—often dismissed by the public and clergy as blasphemous—Nafula’s growing following presents a new spectacle of faith, skepticism, and mystery.
Religious authorities have yet to issue a formal response to Nafula’s declarations. Meanwhile, her story continues to draw curiosity, controversy, and crowds from across the region.