The Uganda Martyrs

Charles Ajunwa writes that the site of the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine has become a Mecca for Ugandans and tourists from all over the world 

The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), organisers of the 2023 Explore Uganda Familiarisation trip, included Namugongo Martyrs Shrine as one of the historical sites to be visited by journalists and tour operators in the Pearl of Africa.

Other Uganda Martyrs shrines not listed include St. Adolf Mukasa Ludigo shrine in Fort Portal District, St. Andrew Kaggwa (Kahawa) shrine in Hoima District and St. Anatole Kiriggwajjo shrine in Hoima District.

But Namugongo became more popular because of the bloodbath that took place there some 126 years ago. Kabaka Mwanga II  in an effort to curb the Christian influence and try to regain the traditional and customary authority over his subjects who converted to Christianity, executed between January 31, 1885 and January 27, 1887, 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican Christians in a place that came to be known as Namugongo. Today, this is regarded as one of Uganda’s darkest moments in history. 

As we embarked on the journey to Namugnongo, which is located approximately 14 kilometres (9 mi), by road, northeast of the central business district of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, I observed that its past of notoriety seemed to have been caught up by civilisation and modernity as schools, hospitals, supermarkets and real estate dotted the whole landscape.

But this cruelty of man to man cannot be hidden forever as it is tucked right inside the Namugongo Shrine. Apart from some of the relics of the martyrs carefully preserved at the Namugongo Shrine, images of how the Christian prisoners were tortured and killed by the executioners on the orders of the Kabaka, were reconstructed for visitors to the shrine to appreciate what the martyrs went through.

History of the Uganda Martyrs

The tour guide said the first Catholic Christian martyr, St. Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe, was killed on 15th November 1885 in Nakivubo, Kampala.

“But this was before, the then King of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga held a court session at his palace in Munyonyo located on the shore of Lake Victoria and sentenced to death a group of 15 Christians on 25th May 1886, and his ruling marked the beginning of the large-scale persecution and killing of Christians who refused to denounce their faith. Once the Christians were sentenced to death at Munyonyo, they were tied up and put on the march to Namugongo which was the execution ground of the Kabaka. The journey from Munyonyo (and from other places where Christians were picked after the Kabaka’s ruling) to Namugongo was tormentous that many Christians, nine in number, died or were killed along the way when they could not continue.

“Too tired to walk, the last Christians were dragged on their backs as they got to Namugongo. It is this practice that gave birth to the name “Namugongo” which was derived from the phrase “babaleta na mugongo”, meaning “they were brought (to the execution grounds) on their backs”. “Mugongo” is a word in the local Luganda language for the body part “back”. “Na mugongo” literally means “on/by the back“, hence the name of the place “Namugongo”.

“The final group of 13 Christians that survived the horrendous journey and reached the execution ground at Namugongo were executed by burning them to death, on 3rd June 1886. They were tied between reeds and lots of firewood, and the wood was put on fire from the feet area so that they could die a slow and painful death. The Christians died with defiance, singing and praising God as they burned away in the blazing firewood.”

Uganda Martyrs Day

The tour guide said June 3 became Uganda Martyrs Day, being the day the Uganda Martyrs were burned at Namugongo, “Is one of the most important days of the calendar for Catholic and Anglican Christians in Uganda and the region. Millions of pilgrims make a trip to Namugongo to celebrate the Uganda martyrs on 3rd June. This is perhaps the biggest religious gathering on the continent, and one of the biggest in the world.

“Many Christians coming from the far corners of the country and from across the borders chose to walk for days and weeks to get to Namugongo for the martyr’s day celebrations on 3rd June. The Christians subject themselves to the hardships of walking hundreds of kilometers to emulate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their faiths. The Christians who draw inspiration from the martyrs feel their faith is strengthened by the long walk and hardships they face during the journey to Namugongo.”

The 22 Catholic Martyrs include: Achilleus Kewanuka (date of death 3 June 1886 at 17 years) was burnt;  Adolphus Ludigo-Mukasa (3 June 1886 at 24 years) was burnt; Ambrose Kibuuka Katekamu (3 June 1886 at 18 years) was burnt; Anatoli Kirigwajjo (3 June 1886) was burnt; Andrew Kaggwa Kaahwa (26 May 1886 at about 30 years) killed with Panga and a knife; Athanasius Bazzekuketa Kizza (27 May 1886 at 20 years) killed with spear; Bruno Sserunkuuma (3 June 1886) burnt to death; Charles Lwanga (3 June 1886); Denis Ssebuggwawo Wasswa (25 May 1886 at 16 years) and Gonzaga Gonza Nghonzabato (27 May 1886 at 24 years) killed with spear.

Others are Gyavira Mayanja Musoke (3 June 1886 at 17 years) was burnt;  James Buuzabalyawo Kalumba Ssebayigga (3 June 1886 at 26 years) was burnt; John Mary Kiwanuka Muzeeyi (27 January 1887) killed with panga; Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe (15 November 1885 at 20 years) died through panga and fire; Kizito (3 June 1886) was burnt; Lu (ke (Lukka) Baanabakintu (3 June 1886 at 30 years) was burnt; Mathias Kalembe Mulumba Wante (30 May 1886 at 50 years) knife and panga; Mbaaga Tuzinde (3 June 1886 at 17 years) died through stick and fire; Mugagga Lubowa (3 June 1886 at 16 years) burnt; Mukasa Kiriwawanvu (3 June 1886) burnt; Noa Mawaggali (31 May 1886) Tied on the tree and dogs bit and then thrown on the road and Ponsiano Ngondwe (26 May 1886 at 30 years) killed with spear.

The Catholic Church beatified the 22 Catholic Uganda martyrs of its faith in 1920 and they were canonised in 1964 by Pope Paul VI. at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In 2014, Uganda celebrated 50 years since the Uganda Martyrs were canonized and elevated to sainthood by Pope Paul VI on 18 October 1964.

Basilica and Martyr’s Lake

The basilica stands majestically at Namugongo and has become the icon of the Martyr’s shrine and Martyrs Day celebrations. Next to the basilica is the Martyrs lake, a small man-made lake which is at the site of the swamp/stream where killers of the martyrs washed their pangas executing the martyrs. The water of the lake is considered holy because it is where the blood of the martyrs was washed off the pangas of the killers.

The lake is surrounded by the pavilion where pilgrims seat to attend mass during the martyr’s day celebrations.

Uganda Martyrs Museum

“There is also a museum which showcases the journey and execution of the martyrs through sculptors.

“A monument is built at each martyrdom site, starting from Munyonyo near the shores of Lake Victoria,” the tour guide said.

Uganda Martyrs Trail and Kampala City Tour

According to the tour guide, “The Uganda martyr’s trail tour is one of the most spiritually nourishing experiences for a Christian pilgrim. It is also a great source of history about religion in Uganda, as well as culture, as the trail overlaps the Buganda Royal tourism circuit.

“The Uganda Martyrs tour is a full day experience where you go tracking the different monuments/shrines of each martyr through the chaotic Kampala City before winding up at the pristine grounds of Namugongo Martyrs shrine, the final execution ground of the martyrs. You can drive to each of the shrines or decide to walk in the footsteps of the martyrs and trek to each of the sites.

“The Martyrs trail tour starts at Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine where King Mwanga gave the order to kill the Christians. Within the area of Munyonyo the first three Christians were killed right after the king gave the orders. A beautiful basilica sits here, and you can start the Martyrs trail tour by celebrating mass in the basilica.

“You will visit the martyrdom sites of each of the nine Christians that were killed enroute to Namungongo, and learn about the unique backgrounds of each of these martyrs and how they met their death with such conviction of their belief in God. The martyrdom sites are littered in different suburbs of the city and within the busy and chaotic central business district.

“You will also visit the Buganda Royal Tourism circuit which includes the Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, the royal mile, the Buganda Parliament and the Kabaka’s Lake in Mengo. You will learn so much about the Buganda Kingdom, the history, culture and traditions of the Baganda people who occupy much of central Uganda. The Buganda Kingdom and the Uganda Martyrs are intertwined because the King of the Buganda gave the orders to kill the Christians.

“You will also have an insight into the day to day lives of the local people in Kampala City,” adding, “Visiting all the nine martyrdom sites requires a full day and on this day you will not make it to Namugongo.

“The following day you will then go visit the Namugongo Martyrs shrine and the museum, the climax of the Uganda Martyrs trailer~