Lesson from the Uganda martyrs
Jun 01, 2011
The long awaited appointments to Cabinet last week had several pleasant surprises, the best of them all was the appointment of women to very critical ministries – such as finance, gender, education, information, presidency, trade, water, energy, health, Kampala and Karamoja.
The long awaited appointments to Cabinet last week had several pleasant surprises, the best of them all was the appointment of women to very critical ministries – such as finance, gender, education, information, presidency, trade, water, energy, health, Kampala and Karamoja.
This action is clear evidence of the increased confidence that women have garnered over the years and the President’s resolve to respect equal opportunities for all. Congratulations to all women who have been appointed to serve on the cabinet of the Republic of Uganda. We trust that your merit and hard work will earn us more places.
The implementation of Government programmes is squarely placed on the shoulders of the ministers who will also be closely monitored by a shadow cabinet appointed by the opposition political parties. The ministerial function requires self-sacrifice, commitment, focus, resolve and hard work.
Linked to the virtues of self-sacrifice and commitment is the story of the renowned Uganda martyrs, which is celebrated every June 3. Research on the meaning of the word martyr notes that this word is of Greek origin meaning “witnessâ€. A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce a belief or cause, usually religious. The word martyr is also used in English to describe a wide variety of people—common features present in stereotypical martyrdoms include the fact that a martyr is:
a hero who is devoted to a cause;
that there are people who oppose that cause – the opposition,
that existence of the opposition implies foreseeable risk;
one who has courage and commitment and when the hero is killed by opponents, the death is commemorated and other people are inspired to pursue the cause.
Appointment to a ministerial position obviously does not lead to martyrdom in the strict sense. However, some key attributes of a martyr which can be linked to a cabinet appointment include the fact ministers are regarded as witnesses for the NRM government. Service at cabinet level thus requires one to be ready to serve in all circumstances at any given time. Although the existence of the opposition shadow cabinet does not imply foreseeable risk such as loss of life; its existence is a constant reminder that if the job is not performed to the expectations of the people, the opposition increases the potential to capture political power.
Back to Martyrs Day. The story of the Uganda martyrs is celebrated worldwide, it is a story of Christian converts who were murdered for their faith in the kingdom of Buganda. They were murdered by Kabaka Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887. These deaths were a result of religious struggle for political control of the royal court. Protestant missionaries and French Catholic White Fathers competed with each other and the Zanzibar-based Muslim traders for converts and influence.
By the mid-1880s, many members of the Buganda royal court had converted and become proxies for the religious and nationalist conflict that was being played out in the court. The death of Mutesa I in 1884 a few years after the arrival of the missionaries, left the Buganda kingdom in the hands of Mwanga II, a youth, who felt that the converts had diverted their loyalty to the Christian authority and that the powers and authority his predecessors had enjoyed were dwindling. He thus ordered the converts to choose between their new faith, and complete obedience to his orders. Those unwilling to renounce their new faith would be subjected to death. Courageously, the converts chose their faith. The execution of 26 Christians at Namugongo on June 3, 1886; was the climax of the campaign against converts.
Rather than deter the growth of Christianity, the martyrdom of the early believers sparked its growth instead. The blood of the martyrs proved to be the seed of faith. The story of the Uganda martyrs is one that calls for soul searching. The question is, would you be willing to die for a cause? This question is often countered by other statements such as “a good soldier is one who lives to fight another dayâ€. This notwithstanding, the fact that some of the martyrs were canonized and are recognized as Saints in the Catholic Church is a source of pride for all Africans. Indeed, pilgrims flock to Namugongo from all over the world to celebrate Martyrs Day.
In many ways, the seed of faith sown by shedding blood has in the history of Uganda sprouted unprecedented development. Most families whose parents are religious converts have over time nurtured great leaders of our times. The commitment and discipline that came with religious conversion although once viewed as rebellious, because converts did not adhere to the cultural norms, gave birth to the education of both the boy and girl child. It gave birth to a brotherhood grounded in shared belief and thus provided and still provides a safety net for the faithful.
Currently, Article 29(1)(c) of the Constitution of Uganda provides that “every person shall have the right to freedom to practise any religion and manifest such practice which shall include the right to belong and participate in the practice of any religious body or organization in a manner consistent with the Constitutionâ€. This is an important principle considering that Ugandans in the past died for their faith.
As we commemorate Martyrs Day this year, my humble prayer is that this should be a time for reflection and renewed commitment to causes we are committed to. The virtues for which the martyrs stood is an inspiration to all humanity. Congratulations to the brand new Cabinet. May your term of office be exemplary as we deepen and widen the integration of the East African Community.
This action is clear evidence of the increased confidence that women have garnered over the years and the President’s resolve to respect equal opportunities for all. Congratulations to all women who have been appointed to serve on the cabinet of the Republic of Uganda. We trust that your merit and hard work will earn us more places.
The implementation of Government programmes is squarely placed on the shoulders of the ministers who will also be closely monitored by a shadow cabinet appointed by the opposition political parties. The ministerial function requires self-sacrifice, commitment, focus, resolve and hard work.
Linked to the virtues of self-sacrifice and commitment is the story of the renowned Uganda martyrs, which is celebrated every June 3. Research on the meaning of the word martyr notes that this word is of Greek origin meaning “witnessâ€. A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce a belief or cause, usually religious. The word martyr is also used in English to describe a wide variety of people—common features present in stereotypical martyrdoms include the fact that a martyr is:
a hero who is devoted to a cause;
that there are people who oppose that cause – the opposition,
that existence of the opposition implies foreseeable risk;
one who has courage and commitment and when the hero is killed by opponents, the death is commemorated and other people are inspired to pursue the cause.
Appointment to a ministerial position obviously does not lead to martyrdom in the strict sense. However, some key attributes of a martyr which can be linked to a cabinet appointment include the fact ministers are regarded as witnesses for the NRM government. Service at cabinet level thus requires one to be ready to serve in all circumstances at any given time. Although the existence of the opposition shadow cabinet does not imply foreseeable risk such as loss of life; its existence is a constant reminder that if the job is not performed to the expectations of the people, the opposition increases the potential to capture political power.
Back to Martyrs Day. The story of the Uganda martyrs is celebrated worldwide, it is a story of Christian converts who were murdered for their faith in the kingdom of Buganda. They were murdered by Kabaka Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887. These deaths were a result of religious struggle for political control of the royal court. Protestant missionaries and French Catholic White Fathers competed with each other and the Zanzibar-based Muslim traders for converts and influence.
By the mid-1880s, many members of the Buganda royal court had converted and become proxies for the religious and nationalist conflict that was being played out in the court. The death of Mutesa I in 1884 a few years after the arrival of the missionaries, left the Buganda kingdom in the hands of Mwanga II, a youth, who felt that the converts had diverted their loyalty to the Christian authority and that the powers and authority his predecessors had enjoyed were dwindling. He thus ordered the converts to choose between their new faith, and complete obedience to his orders. Those unwilling to renounce their new faith would be subjected to death. Courageously, the converts chose their faith. The execution of 26 Christians at Namugongo on June 3, 1886; was the climax of the campaign against converts.
Rather than deter the growth of Christianity, the martyrdom of the early believers sparked its growth instead. The blood of the martyrs proved to be the seed of faith. The story of the Uganda martyrs is one that calls for soul searching. The question is, would you be willing to die for a cause? This question is often countered by other statements such as “a good soldier is one who lives to fight another dayâ€. This notwithstanding, the fact that some of the martyrs were canonized and are recognized as Saints in the Catholic Church is a source of pride for all Africans. Indeed, pilgrims flock to Namugongo from all over the world to celebrate Martyrs Day.
In many ways, the seed of faith sown by shedding blood has in the history of Uganda sprouted unprecedented development. Most families whose parents are religious converts have over time nurtured great leaders of our times. The commitment and discipline that came with religious conversion although once viewed as rebellious, because converts did not adhere to the cultural norms, gave birth to the education of both the boy and girl child. It gave birth to a brotherhood grounded in shared belief and thus provided and still provides a safety net for the faithful.
Currently, Article 29(1)(c) of the Constitution of Uganda provides that “every person shall have the right to freedom to practise any religion and manifest such practice which shall include the right to belong and participate in the practice of any religious body or organization in a manner consistent with the Constitutionâ€. This is an important principle considering that Ugandans in the past died for their faith.
As we commemorate Martyrs Day this year, my humble prayer is that this should be a time for reflection and renewed commitment to causes we are committed to. The virtues for which the martyrs stood is an inspiration to all humanity. Congratulations to the brand new Cabinet. May your term of office be exemplary as we deepen and widen the integration of the East African Community.