THE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS OF UGANDA
The Uganda Martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 18,
1964
Feast Day: June 3rd the day of their death
On June 3rd, 1886, more than 24
young men, pages of the court of
King Mwanga of Buganda (present
day Uganda) were burned to death
at Namugongo for their refusal to
renounce Christianity.
Many think that the faith and zeal of
the early Christians died out as the
Church grew more powerful
through the centuries. However, the
death of these young men is a
reminder that persecution of
Christians continues even to the
present day. In fact, more people
have died in recent years for the
faith than during the time of the
early Christians.
The events leading up to the death of these young men began some
twenty years earlier when the Society of the “White Fathers” was
founded. The White Fathers, named for the color of their habit, not for
the color of their skin, was founded in 1868 by the first Archbishop of
Algiers who later became a Cardinal, to educate a large number of Arab
children who had been left orphan by the Famine of 1867. From the
beginning, however, the Founder, Cardinal Lavigerie, had wanted to
work with Arabs and the peoples of Central Africa.
The path to evangelization of Africa was difficult and dangerous. Many
missionaries, both Catholic and Anglican were martyred before they
ever reached their destination. The arrival of the missionaries who
reached central Africa set the stage for dramatic changes in Uganda’s
religious and political life.
The history of Buganda (Uganda) from this point on took a different
turn. Mutesa I allowed his people to join any creed they wanted to
while he remained uncommitted because he did not want to be
circumcised as the Moslems wished or give up polygamy as the
Christians wished. But the early death of King Mutesa I in 1884, just a
few years after the arrival of the missionaries, left the kingdom in the
hands of Mwanga II, his son.
The young King Mwanga lacked the maturity and wisdom to deal
successfully with foreigners and because of this lack of experience; he
became the last king of independent Buganda. Although Mwanga had
shown some love for the missionaries as a young prince, his attitude
changed when he became king. He turned into an intolerant and vicious
persecutor of Christians and foreigners. He felt, with good cause, that
the powers and authority that his ancestors enjoyed were dwindling.
The converts had given their loyalty to Someone else and their
allegiance was no longer assured.
The Christian religion was received with much excitement by the
converts, but it came with its own requirements. It denounced all the
native religious behavior and practices as heathen and satanic. By
committing oneself to Christianity it meant breaking away from the old
life style and adopting new moral and religious standards.
For King Mwanga, the ultimate humiliation was the insolence he
received from the Pages who resisted his homosexual advances.
According to tradition the king was the center of power and authority,
and he could dispense with any life as he saw fit.
Homosexuality was unheard of among the Buganda people. It was also
unheard of for mere Pages to reject the wishes of the king. He was
personally shamed by the lowest of his subjects who would no longer
share his bed. Thus began the deadly campaign against foreigners and
converted African Christians.
It was hardly a year after Mwanga became King before he ordered the
execution of Joseph Rugarama, Mark Kakumba and Noah Serwanga,
who would become the first three Christian martyrs, who were killed on
January 31, 1885. Not only these three, but all the Uganda Martyrs
were either burned, dismembered or beheaded. In October of the same
year, King Mwanga ordered the death of the Anglican Bishop, James
Hannington, who was journeying to Buganda.
When Joseph Mkasa, the 25 year old leader of a small Christian
community of 200 and the Chief Steward at the court of King Mwanga,
heard about the death of the Protestant missionary Bishop Hannington
he confronted Mwanga and condemned his action. King Mwanga had
always liked Joseph, but when Joseph dared to demand that Mwanga
change his lifestyle King Mwanga forgot about their long friendship.
After striking Joseph with a spear, he ordered him killed. When the
executioners tried to tie his hands, he told them,” A Christian who gives
his life for God is not afraid to die. Joseph forgave Mwanga with all his
heart before he was beheaded and then burned on November 15, 1885.
Charles Lwanga took over the instruction and leadership of the
Christian community at court and the job of keeping the boys and
young men out of Mwanga’s hands. For about six months the
persecution died down a little.
Then in May 1886, Mwanga called one of his pages named Mwafu and
asked why he hadn’t seen him for awhile. Mwafu told King Mwanga
that he had been receiving religious instructions from Denis
Sebuggwawo. Mwanga became so angry that he had Denis brought to
him and he killed him himself by thrusting a spear through his throat.
He ordered the compound sealed so no one could escape and called the
country’s executioners. Charles Lwanga baptized four catechumens for
he knew what was about to happen. King Mwanga brought his court
before him and demanded that the Christians stand to one side. Then
they were condemned to death. King Mwanga commanded that the
group be taken on a 37 mile march to the place of execution at
Namugongo.
Among the cruelly bound prisoners was the chief executioner’s son,
Mabaga, He begged his son to escape and hide, but his son would not do
it. Also condemned was Andrew Kagwa, a Kigowa Chief who had
converted his wife and several others and Matthias Murumba an
assistant judge. Matthias was cut up on the road and left to die. It took
at least three days.
When the original caravan of prisoners reached Namugongo they were
kept imprisoned for seven days. On June 3rd, they were brought out,
wrapped in reed mats and placed on the pyre. Mabaga, the chief
executioner’s son, was killed first after his father’s last futile attempt to
save him. The rest were burned to death. Thirteen Catholics and
eleven Protestants died calling on the name of Jesus and proclaiming,
“You can burn our bodies, but you can not harm our souls.”
When the White Fathers were expelled from the country, the new
Christians carried on their work, translating and printing the catechism
into their native languages and giving secret instruction in the faith.
Intelligence, courage and wisdom kept the Faith in Uganda alive since
they were without any priests to offer the liturgy and administer the
sacraments. When the White Fathers returned after King Mwanga’s
death they found five hundred Christians and a thousand catechumens
waiting for them.
PRAYER
Martyrs of Uganda pray for the faith where it is in danger and for
Christians who are or will be called to suffer for their faith. Help us
always to have the courage to die for Christ if it is asked of us. Help us to
be humble enough to pray for that courage daily
RESOURCES
http://www.catholic.org/printer_friendly.php?id=35&section=Saints+%
26+Angels
http://www.buganda.com/marytrs.htm
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/jek/06/03.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uganda_Martyrs&printable=
yes
http://elvis.rowas.edu/~lilroy/jek/10/29.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uganda&printable=yes
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Janani_Luwum&printable=y
ess
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15613d.htm
http://wwwnbccongress.org/black-catholics/black-marytrs.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwanga_II_of_Buganda
http://wanderingcaravan-bronzebuckaroo.blogspot.com/2007/09/kingmwanga-ii-of-bugan