St. Kizito: Uganda’s youngest Martyr
On JUNE 3, 1886, 22 young men who refused to give up Christianity were burnt to death at Namugongo on the orders of the King of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga. They are the Uganda Martyrs.
By Vision Reporter
On JUNE 3, 1886, 22 young men who refused to give up Christianity were burnt to death at Namugongo on the orders of the King of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga. They are the Uganda Martyrs.
The youngest of these men was Kizito. Kizito was 14 years old and he served as a page (servant) in the inner courts of King Mwanga II.
Though he was a young boy, fellow pages admired him greatly because he was very hard working and loved Jesus Christ very much.
Kizito was born in the village of Waluleetato in Bulemeezi county, to Lukomera (father) and Wangabira (mother). He was a Muganda and he belonged to the Mamba (lungfish) clan.
He was baptised on May 26, 1886 by Charles Lwanga and martyred on June 3, 1886.
Before his death, Kabaka Mwanga had asked the men to stop following Jesus Christ. Kizito and other Christian men refused. Kabaka Mwanga was annoyed that they had disobeyed him and therefore, ordered that they be burnt to death.
In 1964, St Kizito and the other Christian men who were killed by Kabaka Mwanga were declared saints by Pope Paul VI and they became saints.
In honour of all the martyrs, a shrine was built and named in their honor. This is the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo.
St Kizito became the patron of children and primary schools.
On JUNE 3, 1886, 22 young men who refused to give up Christianity were burnt to death at Namugongo on the orders of the King of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga. They are the Uganda Martyrs.
The youngest of these men was Kizito. Kizito was 14 years old and he served as a page (servant) in the inner courts of King Mwanga II.
Though he was a young boy, fellow pages admired him greatly because he was very hard working and loved Jesus Christ very much.
Kizito was born in the village of Waluleetato in Bulemeezi county, to Lukomera (father) and Wangabira (mother). He was a Muganda and he belonged to the Mamba (lungfish) clan.
He was baptised on May 26, 1886 by Charles Lwanga and martyred on June 3, 1886.
Before his death, Kabaka Mwanga had asked the men to stop following Jesus Christ. Kizito and other Christian men refused. Kabaka Mwanga was annoyed that they had disobeyed him and therefore, ordered that they be burnt to death.
In 1964, St Kizito and the other Christian men who were killed by Kabaka Mwanga were declared saints by Pope Paul VI and they became saints.
In honour of all the martyrs, a shrine was built and named in their honor. This is the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo.
St Kizito became the patron of children and primary schools.