Uganda Martyrs Basilica in Namugongo

Namugongo · Uganda · Sanctuary of the 22 Catholic martyrs canonized

The Uganda Martyrs Basilica in Namugongo is the most important sanctuary of the Catholic Church in Uganda. Built in the place where 22 Catholic converts were burned alive by order of the Kabaka Mwanga II in 1886, the basilica was built in 1968 and has become the destination of massive annual pilgrimages every 3 June. The martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 18, 1964.

The historical context

In the 1870s, the kingdom of Buganda experienced a triple religious influence: the French White Fathers arrived in 1879, the Anglican missionaries of the Church Missionary Society had done so in 1877, and the Arab merchants of Zanzibar had introduced Islam. This competition for political influence in the royal court of the kabaka Muteesa I generated tensions that erupted with the arrival of his son Mwanga II to the throne in 1884.

Mwanga, alarmed by the growing influence of Christianity and the emergence of a new class of religious-oriented educated officials, perceived the converts as a threat to their authority. On October 29, 1885, he ordered the murder of Anglican bishop James Hannington on the eastern border of his kingdom.

El martirio de 1886

The first Catholic martyr was Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, executed on November 15, 1885 for having condemned the murder of Hannington and for trying to protect the court pays. Between May 25 and June 3, 1886, Mwanga ordered a massive series of executions. Twenty-two Catholic converts, the majority of whom were young between 13 and 30 years old, were burned alive in Namugongo.

The youngest of the martyrs was Kizito, only 13-14 years old. Carlos Lwanga, 25, leader of the Christian pajes, was the last to be burned on June 3, 1886. Before he died, Lwanga stated: "A bird lying on a burning branch does not stand on that branch again. You can burn us, but we cannot abandon our faith."

The 22 Catholic martyrs

The official list includes: Achilleus Kewanuka (17 years old), Adolphus Ludigo-Mukasa (24), Ambrose Kibuuka (18), Anatoli Kirigwajjo, Andrew Kaggwa (30, executed on 26 May), Athanasius Bazzekuteta (20, executed on 27 May), Bruno Sserunkuuma, Carlos Lwanga (25), Denis Ssebugwawo (16, executed on 25 May), Gonzaga (24 May), Mu (23 May), Gu (17), Mu (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (17), Ku (

Canonization and veneration

Pope Benedict XV beatified Carlos Lwanga, Matiya Mulumba and his twenty companions on June 6, 1920. Pope Paul VI canonized them on October 18, 1964 at the Basilica of St. Peter, at the last papal mass held in tridentine form. During the ceremony, Paul VI also mentioned the Anglican martyrs: "Nor do we want to forget the others who, belonging to the Anglican confession, faced death in the name of Christ."

The feast of Carlos Lwanga and his companions is held on June 3 and is included in the General Roman Calendar. In 2024, the remains of Carlos Lwanga and Mathias Mulumba were returned to Uganda.

The Basilica and the pilgrimages

The Uganda Martyrs Basilica was built in 1968 in Namugongo. Since the 1980s, it has become the destination of mass pilgrimages every June 3, Martyrs Day, with faithful coming from all over Uganda and other African countries. In 2014, Uganda celebrated the 50th anniversary of the canonization. In 2015, the Apostolic Nuncio and Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala placed the first stone of the new Manyonyo Martyrs Sanctuary, a memorial of thanksgiving for canonization.

Other sanctuaries of the martyrs

In addition to Namugongo, there are other sanctuaries dedicated to the martyrs: the San Andrés Kaggwa Sanctuary in the Hoima district, the San Anatole Kiriggwajjo Sanctuary also in Haima, the Katoosa Martyrs Sanctuary in the Kyenjojo district, the Busega Martyrs Memorial and the Munyonyo Martyrs Sanctuary.