The Cause of the Martyrs’ Deaths
Kabaka Mwanga II, who ascended to the Buganda throne in October 1884, was known for his unpredictable and vengeful temperament. His early reign was marked by personal and political crises, including epidemics that claimed several of his wives and chiefs at Nabulagala, and fires that destroyed his capital at Mengo Hill in 1886 and 1887. Politically, he faced threats from the west by Kabalega of Bunyoro, who defeated the Buganda army multiple times during the 1880s.
Mwanga’s hostility toward Christianity was driven largely by political concerns rather than personal belief. Influenced by his Katikiro, a staunch traditionalist, Mwanga viewed European missionaries as potential agents of imperial control. In contrast, Islam was considered more compatible with local customs, posing a lesser threat. Within three months of his reign, Mwanga ordered the execution of three young Anglican converts.
Tensions escalated in 1885 when Bishop James Hannington, an Anglican missionary, attempted to enter Buganda via Busoga, a route regarded as dangerous by local prophecy. Mwanga, fearing foreign influence, ordered Hannington’s execution. Shortly afterward, Joseph Mukasa, a Catholic advisor who openly criticized the killings, was also executed, increasing hostility against Christian converts at court.
The Massacre at Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine
On May 25, 1886, Mwanga’s anger culminated in a brutal crackdown on Christian converts. Over ten days, many were tortured and executed in horrific ways: spearing, beheading, burning alive, or dismemberment. Victims included Andrew Kaggwa, Pontian Ngondwe, Matthias Mulumba, and Denis Ssebuggwawo. While 45 names are recorded, the true number of martyrs is likely higher.
The persecution reached its peak on June 3, 1886, at Namugongo, a traditional execution site 17.5 km northeast of Kampala. Captives, reportedly marched naked from Mengo, were held as a massive pyre was built. Twenty-six Christians—split evenly between Catholics and Protestants—refused to renounce their faith. Charles Lwanga, the Catholic leader, was burned alive, while the others were bound in reed mats and thrown onto the pyre.
The 22 Roman Catholic martyrs commemorated for their faith include Achilles Kiwanuka, Adolphus Ludigo-Mukasa, Ambrose Kibuuka, Charles Lwanga, Denis Ssebuggwawo, Gonzaga Gonza, Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, Matia Mulumba, and others. John Maria Muzeeyi was the last martyr, killed in 1887. Many of the martyrs were young pages serving in the Kabaka’s palace or working in local chiefs’ homesteads.
This tragedy occurred amid religious rivalries at the Buganda court involving Anglican missionaries, French Catholic White Fathers, and Muslim traders, during the broader context of the “Scramble for Africa” and European colonization.
Legacy and Canonization
In 1920, Pope Benedict XV beatified 13 of the Namugongo martyrs and nine other Catholic victims. On October 18, 1964, Pope Paul VI canonized all 22 Catholic martyrs during the Second Vatican Council. He later became the first reigning pope to visit sub-Saharan Africa in 1969, commissioning the construction of a shrine and basilica at Namugongo where Charles Lwanga was martyred.
The Uganda Martyrs Basilica
Completed in 1975 and designated a minor basilica, the Church of the Uganda Martyrs at Namugongo is a striking modernist structure. Twenty-two copper pillars, each over 100 feet long, support the shrine designed in the shape of an African hut. The wooden doors depict the martyrs’ history.
The basilica seats 1,000 worshippers in a circular arrangement. Its altar stands above the site where St. Charles Lwanga was burned alive, and beneath it is a relic of his bone, symbolized by a red light representing martyrdom.
Martyrs’ Lake and Pavilion
A symbolic Martyrs’ Lake was created in remembrance of St. Charles Lwanga’s contributions during his time as a page, notably his work on Kabaka’s Lake at Mengo. Pilgrims often draw water from this lake, sharing stories of spiritual and physical healing.
At the lake’s center is a circular pavilion, supported by four pillars, accommodating over 300 priests during Martyrs’ Day celebrations on June 3. The 15-acre shrine grounds are beautifully landscaped with shaded gardens, providing a serene space for reflection, prayer, and commemoration.
Pilgrimage Today At Uganda Martyrs Shrine
The Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine is a major pilgrimage site, attracting 1–2 million pilgrims annually for the June 3 celebrations. The Uganda Episcopal Conference organizes liturgies, music, processions, and coordinates hospitality, security, and medical support for pilgrims.
Prominent visitors include Pope Paul VI (1969), Pope John Paul II (1993), Pope Francis (2015), and St. Theresa of Calcutta (1988), highlighting the global significance of this sacred site.
