Uganda Martyr Gonzaga Gonza

Menya, another Musoga, was in charge of this section and Namulabira assisted him. It was these two who first taught Gonza the Catholic prayers, which they had written on the back of a wooden tablet inscribed with Muslim prayers in Arabic. When recalled by Kabaka Mwanga Gonza was then posted to the court of the great audience hall where he served under Charles Lwanga. He was not baptized until after the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa, when he received the sacrament from Pere Lourdel and with it the name Gonzaga.

He was about twenty-four years old at the time of his death on the road to Namugongo. On that day the group left Munyonyo to head for Namugongo. However before they reached Namugongo the Martyrs spent a night with chains around their feet at Mengo.

The next morning of Thursday, 27 May in spite of his effort to keep up with his companions, the Musoga page, Gonzaga Gonza, soon fell behind the rest of the party. Like some of his fellow victims, he had spent the night in chains; but in his case the chains around his legs had been fixed so tightly that, during the night, the flesh had swollen around them, and it was found impossible to unhook them in the morning.

He had to set out on the ten-mile journey with the chains biting into his flesh, and could only drag himself along slowly up to about seven miles when his legs could carry him no further. By then, raw wounds had completely entangled his legs and blood trickled to the ground. Finally, in sight of Lubaawo hamlet, at a spot where three roads met, he collapsed.

See more on Uganda Martyrs Wikipedia

Ultimate Media