Uganda commemorates martyrs' day

THOUSANDS of Christians yesterday braved the scorching sun and later an afternoon downpour to pay homage to the Christian martyrs in Namugongo.

The function marked 123 years since 45 Christian converts, 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans, were killed at the orders of the Kabaka of Buganda, Basamula Mwanga II, after they refused to denounce their faith.

The majority of martyrs were burnt to death while others were beheaded and castrated in 1886. The 22 Catholic martyrs were canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

In addition to the 22 catholics killed by Mwanga, 2 other martyrs, Gildo Irwa and Daudi Okello who died in northern Uganda in the early 1900s and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002 are also on the list.

At the shrine of the Catholic martyrs, MPs from western Uganda, including NRM secretary general Amama Mbabazi and Henry Banyenzaki, excited the crowd when they joined in to perform the kitagururo, a traditional Bakiga dance.

The two have been at loggerheads over the Temangalo land issue, while Banyenzaki is on the NRM list of so-called ‘rebel MPs’.

Pilgrims travelled from as far as Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, the DR Congo and Burundi, some on foot, while others flew in from the US, Europe, Zambia and Nigeria. This year’s celebrations were led by Kabale diocese, with Bishop Callist Rubaramira as chief celebrant. He was assisted by the archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

President Yoweri Museveni attended the Catholic celebrations, along with the widow of former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere, cabinet ministers, opposition leaders and MPs. Among the opposition leaders were Kizza Besigye (FDC), Ssebaana Kizito (DP), Miria Obote (UPC) and Ken Lukyamuzi (CP).

“Consider the short time the martyrs had known faith. Within six years, they became committed to Jesus and were ready to die for him. They could not be compromised in the evils of their time. They walked to their deaths singing hymns,” Rubaramira said in his sermon.

He decried Christians who indulge in evil practices such as corruption, intolerance, ritual murder, abortion and witchcraft. President Museveni, who greeted the congregation in about seven languages, quoted the parable of the talents, decrying Ugandans who do not use their talents.

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