With Youth in Uganda 2: Ugandan Martyrs

The National Catholic Charismatic Conference took place on the grounds of the Catholic Ugandan Martyrs Shrine in a section of the capital city of Kampala called Namugongo. Specifically it is the site of the martyrdom of St. Charles Lwanga, the spiritual leader and most influential of those who gave their lives for Christ. The altar of the church at the shrine is situated directly over the place where St. Charles was burned to death, as indicated by the flame-colored light in the photo below. When the missionaries came to the site after St. Charles had been killed, they found three bones among the ashes at this exact spot. I prayed with gratitude for all the benefactors and supporters of the CFR Sudan Mission at the shrine. It is your generosity that made this pilgrimage possible for the young people who particiapted.


Charles Lwanga was singled out to be killed apart from the other martyrs, tortured more severely and burned more slowly, because of the prominent position he held at the court of Kabaka Mwanga, his positive influece over the other, younger martyrs and the particular hatred and envy of some of the other court officials. He is shown in the center of the photo below.


St. Charles was 25 when he was martyred. Many of the other martyrs were younger, in their middle or late teens. St. Kizito, second from the right in the top row, was the youngest at 14 or 15. Most were pages or other attendants in the court of Kabaka Mwanga. They were killed for identifying themselves as Christians, refusing to renounce their faith, and resisting the Kabaka's demands for sexual favors.

Most of the rest of the martyrs were burned alive as a group at a location 2 km away, currently the site of the Church of Uganda (Anglican) Martyrs Shrine. The martyrs were a mixed group of Catholics and Anglicans. They were first tortured at a tree, a remnant of which remains imbedded in a younger tree still on the site. They were then wrapped in reeds and a fire was lighted beneath them. At the Church of Uganda Shrine, there is a sculpture depicting the way in which these young men were executed.






Three other martyrs died at other locations. St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, the protomartyr and majordomo of the Kabaka's palace was killed in November of 1885 at a site which is now surrounded by a public market in the center of Kampala. Like St. Charles Lwanga, he too protected the younger attendants from the Kabakas immoral behavior and catechized them. St. Athanasius Bazzekuketta was killed at the same site in May of 1886 because he refused to march to the designated site of execution and so was martyred at that spot. It's amazing to walk through the very narrow passageways of the marked and suddenly come out into the open space hallowed by the heroic sacrifice of these new Christians.




The final martyr, St. Matthias Kalemba Mulumba, was the oldest, about 50. He had multiple wives, all but one of whom he dismissed (but continued to support) just before being baptized. After becoming a Christian, he humbly assisted his wife in her traditional duties, provoking mockery from other men of the tribe. He, too, was killed en route to the site of martyrdom, and because of the hatred of his executioners was tortured with incomprehensible cruelty. His arms were severed, and portions of flesh cut from his body and he was left to die alone, a process that took 2-3 days. He is the patron of fathers, married couples and families in Uganda. A parish church has been erected at the site of his martydom (indicated by the blue cross below), along with a statue bearing his likeness.