Uganda Martyr athanasius bazzekuketta

Bazzekuketta, was the second of the eleven children of Kafeero Kabalu Sebaggala of the Monkey (Nkima) clan and Namukwaya of the Buffalo (Mbogo) clan. Bazzekuketta who was one of Muteesa’s pages re-appointed by Kabaka Mwanga was put in charge of the Kabaka’s ceremonial robes and ornaments, to keep them clean and polished, and also had the duty of polishing the palace mirrors.

Upon entering the Kabaka’s service, he found there able instructors in Joseph Mukasa, Jean-Marie Muzeeyi and, later, Charles Lwanga. Bazzekuketta was about twenty at the time of his martyrdom,

When taken out of prison at Munyonyo, and on the way to Namugongo Bazzekuketta repeatedly asked the executioners to kill him though they declined to kill him. But then when prisoners reached Mengo late in the evening, they were lodged for the night in the executioners’ encampment.

And the next morning, the executioners informed them that they intended putting one of them to death at the near-by execution- site, where Joseph Mukasa had met his death some six months earlier.

Immediately, Athanasius Bazzekuketta, still thirsting for martyrdom, volunteered. Mukaajanga, who had been informed of the youth’s behavior on the previous evening, gave his assent.

Athanasius was promptly taken to the spot at the foot of Mmengo Hill, just at the back of the present Nakivubo Stadium, and there hacked to pieces. Thus died the fifth of the Blessed Martyrs of Uganda, on the morning of 27 May 1886.

See more on Uganda Martyrs Wikipedia

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