Uganda Martyrs’ Antiquity
Before Uganda, there were un-united monarchies that always wriggled and battled each other to broaden their territories and were diverse in cultural beliefs. By early 1843 came the nonblack people, Arabs from the East African coast received at Wamala palace by then Ssekabaka Sunna ll king of Buganda kingdom which was the strongest kingdom then. The Arabs introduced Islamic and religions emerged on the land and the converted king Sunna II to Islamic.
Later by 1861 the first European explore John Hanning Speke came to Uganda and visited Ssekabaka Mutesa I king of Buganda, the king wrote a letter to queen Victoria of England inviting missionaries to Buganda. 1877 the group of Church Missionary Society CMS of Anglican arrived, followed the White Fathers from Roman Catholic Church in 1879. The two religions settled on hills of Rubaga hill for the White Fathers of the Catholic Church and Namirembe hill for Anglican Church Missionary Society who always struggled to win many converts on their respective side.
The influx of explores and missionaries initiated the integration of monarchies to form one united nation Uganda. 1880s started silent famous religious wars as they struggled for positions in the political affairs and many converts lost their lives in the process of these wars. By 1890s British sent Sir Gerald portal from Zanzibar coast to come and formalize the British protectorate ship in Uganda.
1884 Ssekabaka Mutesa I died and his son Ssekabaka Mwanga II succeeded him as 31st king of Buganda, religious tragedy started here were king Mwanga II never believed in any of the religions though this never stop religions which were growing at a faster rate. Most of the king’s pageboys had converted to different religions among the three especially Christianity and rose misunderstandings between the king and his pageboys.
The king wanted his people in the palace of Mengo to denounce their converted religions which never happened and left the king unhappy about it. By 1886 the King ordered his royal man Mukajjanga the chief executioner to kill every pageboy who couldn’t denounce Christianity with reasons that instead of serving him in the palace were busy with church always, the execution of believer took place at Namugongo the designated execution for Buganda kingdom during Mwanga’s reign.
Having suspected danger to happen to Uganda’s Christian community on 25th may 1886, Charles Lwanga the leader of Uganda’s Christian Community secretly baptized four catechisms at Munyonyo including Kizito, Gyavira Musoke Mayanja, Mbaga Tuzinde and Mugaga Lubowa. The very morning the king summoned all his court and separated Christians from the rest, the King said those who don’t pray stand by me and those who pray stand over there. He continued to ask those who pray whether they were Christians and they were intending to remain Christians and said yes, with strength and courage King Mwanga condemned them to death. They were imprisoned for a short while then bound to each other on twisted lops escorted by ruthless soldiers started their journey to Namugongo the execution site.
Uganda martyrs basilica Namugongo shrine
On 25th November 1885 Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe who was the king majordomo and one of the leaders of Christian believers from the catholic community pioneered the execution at Nakivubo Kampala city center he was beheaded and burnt to ashes. Mukasa Balikuddembe accused Kabaka Mwanga why he ordered for the killing of an Anglican Bishop James Hannington who the king had was coming to Buganda through eastern and the king believed every person coming from the east was an enemy.
Though Balikuddembe was executed first at Nakivubo, however, Munyonyo is where the King Mwanga launched the execution of Christian believers and converts started here their pilgrim journey to Namugongo the execution site. At Munyonyo three were killed including Denies Ssebugwawo, Andrew Kagwa and Pantiano Ngondwe.
Morning of 27th may 1886 at mengo Athanasius Bazzekuketta volunteered to be executed at the foothills of Memgo palace current place Kisenyi. The same day at Old Kampala Mathias Mulumba on his way to Namugongo from Mengo, he refused to continue walking further and demanded for his execution here. The hands were cut off first, the skin was plead off from his back and legs were cut off, he was left with bleeding open vessels and later after three days Mulumba died.
Prisoners tied on neck and feet to another by cords and stocks, the martyrs moved over 10 miles to Namugongo. At Namugongo the martyrs were confined like a week before their execution, by that time executioners were preparing and collecting enough fire wood and rids for burning victims.
3rd June 1886 was when real executions took place, the martyrs were tied in rids. Ssenkole the guardian of the sacred fused and singled out Charles Lwanga to be the first victim of holocaust. Ssenkole was not allowed to be present at the actual scene of the large execution but in ritual practices had to select one of the victims and burn him apart from the others. At Namugongo 22 young boys were set on fire who kept praising and praying while burning in flames of fire, victims were made to arrange their own fire woods and rids and executioners tied one by one in try rids were they burned slowly to ashes.
Pope Frances visit of Namugongo martyrs museum
In total 45 younger believers we killed for the sake of faith 23 Anglicans and 22 catholic. At the place where Charles Lwanga was executed currently exits the iconic Basilica the Martyrs Shrine which Arch Bishop Emmanuel Nsubuga spearheaded its construction in preparation Pope John Paul VI visit in 1969 who launched the construction of the Shrine. On October 18th 1964 Pope Paul VI solemnly proclaimed the catholic martyrs as saints in St. Peters’ Basilica Vatican Rome. Every 3rd of June multitude of believers all over the world emerge to celebrate anniversary of the Holy Martyrs day at Namugongo Uganada.
The martyrs trails tours taking you around different site primarily initiates your gorilla tour or any other wildlife safari in Uganda. The martyrs trail include sites like Munyonyo, St. Balikkudembe Owino market, Matia Mulumba at Old Kampala and the great Namugongo Martyrs shrine and Martyrs Museum.
Mukajanja the Chief executioner