When one narrates about the Uganda Martyrs, memories swiftly run to relate their death to Kabaka Mwanga II of the historical Buganda Kingdom and the Christian missionaries that came to spread the word of God in the land of Buganda, a major element that fuelled the brutal mass killings of the new faith oriented converts given Mwanga’s traditional Conservativeness and fear of the Colonial Agenda on the African land.
The arrival of the Christian missionaries, Anglican and Catholic, set the stage for new developments, and marked a turning point in the religious life of the people of Buganda as well as the political structure of the kingdom and the region at large.
Between 31 January 1885 and 27 January 1887, a group of 23 young newly converted Anglicans and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in the historical Buganda Kingdom were executed on the orders of then; Kabaka Mwanga II at the different sites including; the Martyrs shrine in Namugongo, Jean Marie Muzeeyi in Kisenyi, Musa Mukasa Spot in Mulungu, Dennis Ssebugwawo’s site in Munyonyo, Matia Mulumba Catholic Parish, Martyrs Church in Busega, Ponsiano Ngondwe site and St. Balikuddembe site in Owino.
Executed converts included; Kakumba Makko , Rugarama Yusuf Sserwanga, Nuwa, Balikuddembe, Yosefu Mukasa, Mukasa Musa, Kaggwa Anderea, Ngondwe Ponsiano, Ssebuggwawo Denis, Bazzekuketta Antanansio, Gonza Gonzaga, Mbwa Eriya, Muddu Aguma, Mulumba Matiya, Muwanga Daudi, Kayizzi Kibuuka, Mawaggali Nowa, Mayanja Kitoogo, Muwanga, Lwanga Karoli, Baanabakintu Lukka, Buuzabalyawo Yakobo, Gyaviira, Kibuuka Ambrosio, Kiriggwajjo Anatoli, Kiriwawanvu Mukasa, Kiwanuka Achileo, Kizito, Ludigo Mukasa Adolofu, Mugagga, Sserunkuuma Bruno, Tuzinde Mbaga, Kadoko Alexanda, Kifamunnyanja, Kiwanuka Giyaza, Kizza Frederick, Kwabafu, Lwakisiga Mukasa, Lwanga, Mubi-azaalwa, Munyagabyangu Robert, Muwanga Njigija, Nakabandwa Danieri, Walukagga Nuwa, Wasswa and Muzeeyi Jean-Marie.
These Martyrs have since 1964 been canonized as Saints and Martyrs of Uganda celebrated every 3rd June each year in what is known as Faith based Tourism. Multitudes of pilgrims within Uganda and across the different African regions throng Namugongo Shrine and the different massacre sites to honour and celebrate the martyrs for their strong sacrifice for religion.
However, due to the feared spread of Coronavirus in Uganda while the Country is on lockdown, celebrations at the Namugongo Martyrs shrine that have always attracted multitudes in the past were called off as Christians were advised to pray from their homes and celebrate with the martyrs in heart and soul though national prayers were carried out at the shrine led by Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga with only a limited number of members from the Catholic Church and Church of Uganda.
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