Who are Uganda Martyrs?

This article was written by Jean-Marie Nsambu in 2007

As recognised by both the Anglican and Catholic churches, the Uganda martyrs were so named not because of the suffering they endured, but rather the reason they chose to die.

The word martyr comes from the word martus, which is Greek for 'witness', says a chaplain of the Opus Dei Prelature in Uganda, Fr. Manuel Castanyos.

"Other than deny Christ, a person offers to die when there is a force requiring that person to choose between the two."

The 45 executed on Kabaka Mwanga's orders, as well as the two boys who were speared by men sponsored by Arab merchants later, are an inspiration to millions of Christians today.

When Christianity came to Uganda in the late 1870s, the early converts, the majority of whom were young pages in the service of the Kabaka, unreservedly embraced it. Mwanga had shown love for the missionaries when he was a prince. But, when he became king, upon his father Kabaka Muteesa I's death, he became hostile to Christianity.

The British Anglican and French Catholic missionaries had managed to convince converts to denounce native religious behaviour and practices. By accepting baptism, the young men also broke away from old lifestyles and social indulgences.
 

Commonly referred to as abasomi (catechumens), the converts could no longer indulge in activities they saw as unchristian.

To Mwanga this was insubordination as he felt his authority was being questioned. Some historians argue that the peak of his humiliation was when the pages decided to stop indulging in homosexuality with him. The youthful king had copied the practice from coastal traders that had infiltrated Buganda.

Mwanga was bent on salvaging his authority. His wrath was first meted on Yozefu Rugarama, Makko Kakumba and Nuwa Serwanga, who were killed at Busega Nateete on January 31, 1885.

In October, Anglican Bishop James Hannington met his death in Busoga. It was at the hands of Mwanga's men. It was an abomination to enter Buganda via Busoga, regarded as a backdoor. But a Catholic convert, Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, who was Mwanga's senior adviser, condemned the Kabaka over the bishop's death. Mwanga had Balikuddembe beheaded at Nakivubo, on November 15, 1885. Several other killings followed between December of 1885 and May of 1886.

Kaloli (Charles) Lwanga, the chief of 400 royal courtiers, was touched when he learnt of his friend Balikuddembe's death. Together with Bruno Sserunkuma, Yakobo Buuzabalyawo and several others, he approached the missionaries for baptism.

Sebuggwawo, on May 26, 1886, was found conducting a catechism and was beheaded. Anderea Kaggwa, a palace bandmaster, who converted one of the Kabaka's wives among other palace royals, was also beheaded together with Ponsiano Ngondwe and an Anglican Musa Mukasa at Munyonyo, that day.

Eriya Mbwa and Muddu-aguma were castrated on May 27, before being killed. On May 31 Daudi Muwanga, Kibuuka Kayizzi, Mayanja Kitoogo and another Muwanga, were castrated too and killed in Mityana.

Pilgrims trekking to Namugongo

Lwanga tried to save other young men from the king's wrath, an action which infuriated Mwanga. He ordered those that did not want to die, to renounce the faith.

Led by Lwanga, all the youngsters all refused to do so. They were bound with rope the next day and forced to walk 12 miles to Namugongo, where they were executed.

Antanansio Bazzekuketta and Gonzaga Gonza collapsed and were killed along the way on May 27, 1886, at Nakivubo and Lubaawo in Kireka respectively. Mbaaga Tuzinde, son of chief executioner Mukajjanga, turned a deaf ear to his father's pleas and was martyred too.

Christians burned at Namugongo included Lwanga, Lukka Baanabakintu, Buuzabalyawo, Gyaviira, Ambrosio Kibuuka, Anatoli Kiriggwajjo, and Mukasa Kiriwawanvu. Others were Achileo Kiwanuka, Kizito (the youngest of all), Adolofu Ludigo, Mugagga, Sserunkuuma, and Mbaaga Tuzinde. Others were Alexanda Kaddoko, Kifamunnyanja, Giyaza Kiwanuka, Frederick Kizza and Kwabafu, Mukasa Lwakisiga, Lwanga (not Kaloli), Mubi-azaalwa, Robert Munyagabyangu, Njigija Muwanga, Danieri Nakabandwa, Nuwa Walukagga, and Wasswa.

Jean-Marie Muzeeyi, the last of known martyrs, was arrested later on January 27, 1887. He was beheaded at Mengo.

About 30 years (November 1917) later, two teenage catechists from Kitgum, Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, were speared to death for teaching against the various immoral ways of merchants, who had established an Arabian hub in the region.

The north was under Italian Catholic missionaries. They have since been added to the number of those that have shared 'the cup' that Christ drank in the garden of Gethsemane.

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