The Ugandan Martyrs’ unforgettable act of love

As we celebrate the feast day of the Ugandan Martyrs, all the roads lead to Namugongo. In this holy place, people from all over the world gather in prayers thanking God for the love he showed to these saints of Uganda. At Namugongo, we still hear the echo of the words of Pope Paul VI during the colourful ceremony of the canonization of these martyrs: “These African martyrs herald the dawn of a new age. If only the mind of man might be directed not toward persecutions and religious conflicts but toward a rebirth of Christianity and civilization!” The Pope was calling the attention of the people gathered there on that feast, to meditate on what had taken place at Namugongo and to think of the effect it should have on our faith and Christian behavior. “Africa has been washed by the blood of these latest martyrs, the first of this new age,” said Pope Paul VI. But what had really taken place that caused that kind of cruelty to these innocent Ugandans? Well it all began as most tragedies do. The arrival of the Christian missionaries in Uganda marked a turning point in the history of the country, commonly known as the Pearl of Africa, because of its beauty and its good-hearted people. That event ushered in a social revolution in which the Christian religion was received with much joy by the converts. Some of these converts embraced Christianity whole heartedly. Despite of the language problem which must have existed between them and the missionaries, they found the courage and commitment to break away from the old life style, and quickly, they adopted new alliances. They further adjusted to the new moral and religious standards, adherence and allegiance. This new flock of believers (abasomi, or readers, as they were called) began to be regarded by the authority as ‘rebels’ who had transferred their loyalty to new religious systems thus abandoning the old tribal traditions. The King considered this an insult directed at him personally and at the whole of his kingdom. This made matters worse for the converts. King Mwanga himself changed a lot; once the lively and enthusiastic prince, friendly to the missionaries, he turned into an intolerant and vicious persecutor of Christians and those he considered to be strangers. He became worried that the powers and authority his predecessors had enjoyed were dwindling, and that they might be disintegrated under the influence of the missionaries and their converts. It is with these conflicting values in mind, that Mwanga was determined to get rid of the new teaching and its followers in his kingdom. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, a very wise senior advisor to the king and a Catholic convert himself, decided to approach the King to advise him as he was used to. But it did not work out! He was so shocked to see that the King was so annoyed of him. Mwanga thought that Mukasa was just questioning his power and action. Instead of listening to him, he ordered him arrested and killed. Mukasa was ready to die instead of changing his new Christian way of looking at things. And that is how on November 15, 1885, Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe became the first Ugandan Catholic martyr. He was silently beheaded at Nakivubo. Those who followed the event were shocked at courage that they had never seen before. Between December 1885 and May 1886 many more converts were wantonly murdered. Mwanga precipitated a showdown in May by ordering the converts to choose between their new faith, and complete obedience to his orders. Those unwilling to renounce their new faith would be subject to death. Courageously, the neophytes chose their faith. The execution of twenty six Christians at Namugongo on June 3, 1886, was the beginning of the campaign against the converts. The last person killed in this crusade, was Jean-Marie Muzeeyi, who was beheaded at Mengo on Jan 27, 1887. The list of forty five known Catholic and Protestant martyrs includes only those who could be formally accounted for, many more murders went unreported and without a record. As we celebrate the feast day of the Ugandan Martyrs, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that: “We should always note that this is a distinctive characteristic of the Christian martyr – it is exclusively an act of love, towards God and towards men, including the persecutors.” The Pope said this from his study window in the Vatican the day after this year’s Christmas, when the Roman Catholic Church celebrated the feast of Saint Stephen – the first Christian martyr. The pope’s speech drew attention to the fact that Christians in many parts of the world still face persecution, torture and death. He added on: “It is not rare even today that we receive news from various parts of the world of missionaries, priests, bishops, monks, nuns and lay people persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, deprived of their liberty or prevented from exercising it because they are disciples of Christ and apostles of he Gospel.” In the above lines, Pope Benedict XVI sends us Christians a very important message as we celebrate the feast day of these great martyrs of Uganda. In addition to admiring the heroism of these martyrs of Uganda, we should pray for all those who suffer because of their fidelity to Christ and to his Church. And as far as we are concerned, we should have the courage to make the small sacrifices that may be required by our Christian way of life. Ends