Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo, one of the Banyoro martyrs, was a tall, slender, dark-skinned young man, whose forehead bore the tribal marks of his people. He was about twenty-four when he perished in the flames at Namugongo and, like his compatriot Andrew Kaggwa, had been carried off by Baganda raiders when still a young boy. Adolphus […]
Mukasa Kiriwawanvu, the only one of the twenty-two beatified martyrs to die without the baptism of water, was a fervent catechumen but when at the height of the crisis Charles Lwanga baptized the other catechumens, he was already in prison for striking his fellow-page Gyaviira. It is suggested that a practical difficulty prevented him from […]
He was not publicly known as a Christian, and when, on the fateful morning of 26 May 1886, he ranged himself with Charles and the other Christians, the Chancellor himself tried to save him by stating that Mugagga was not a Christian. The sixteen-year-old boy would not accept the chance of escape thus offered to […]
Of all the martyrs, Mbaaga Tuzinde had faced the biggest hurdle in terms of temptations to save his life by renouncing his religion. During the week, which the martyrs spent at Namugongo awaiting execution, he was separated from his companions, deprived of their moral support and he had to single handedly face entreaties of his […]
Achilles Kiwanuka entered the royal service at about the same time with Ambrose Kibuuka, the martyr. At first, Kiwanuka was in the service of the county chief, but later became a dependant of Ssaabakaaki, the man who presented him at Court on the accession of Mwanga. Achilles Kiwanuka belonged to the Scaly Ant-eater (Lugave) Clan, […]
After the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa, when it was likely that other Christians too might, at any moment, would face persecution, Kibuuka, together with other pages, stole by night to the Catholic mission to ask for immediate baptism. Pere Lourdel baptized Kiwanuka and Kibuuka on the night of 16 November 1885, receiving the names Achilles […]
Being small, about fifteen, of slight build and endowed with handsome features, Gyaviira soon attracted the unwelcome attentions of Kabaka Mwanga. But then, encouraged by the words and example of so many of his companions, Gyavira remained firm and persistently rejected the shameful proposals of his lord and master. His father Ssemalago Mubiru of the […]
James Buuzabalyawo was one of Andrew Kaggwa’s converts. As a bandsman he came under the command of Andrew Kaggwa who taught him to play the big drum and also instructed him in the Catholic faith. He became Kaggwa’s chief assistant, not only as a bandsman but also as a teacher of the catechism. Kaggwa, who […]
When the persecution broke out on May 25, 1886, Luke was on his way to Mengo from Mityana, and stayed the night with his friend Cyprian Kamya, who had been baptized with him four years earlier. The next morning he continued with his journey to the capital aware of the eminent danger of being persecuted […]
Gonzaga Gonza, was a Musoga, who, like his fellow tribesman Matthias Kalemba, had been seized and carried off as a slave by a raiding party of Baganda. Gonza was first in the service of one Tegusaaga who started as a palace firewood-cutter and rose to the rank of corporal of the guard. By Tegusaaga, Gonza […]