Uganda Martyrs Showcase Country’s Special Favours from God

by Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

Pope Francis at Namugongo, on November 28, where most Martyrs were killed.

Right from the day Mapeera landed in Kigungu, on the shores of the world’s second largest fresh water lake, L. Victoria on February 17, 1879, the Catechumen instructions, to the time of the execution of the 22 Roman Catholic Uganda Martyrs in Namugongo and elsewhere; their Beatification and subsequent Canonisation, miracles continue to manifest themselves to the extent that the number of those called to be Christ’s witnesses is growing at a rate that defies human understanding and reason.

Mapeera’s landing at Kigungu is responsible for the enduring changes in the social, political, economic and religious life of Buganda and the surrounding areas. Buganda later became part of what is today known as Uganda. It is evident that events were unfolding with the prompting of an Invisible hand.  And the beauty with which all these events and miracles manifest themselves looks beyond any form of diversion and destruction.

The zeal that Mapeera- as the locals referred to Fr. Simeon Lourdel a member of the Missionaries of Africa who are also popularly referred to as the White Fathers- exhibited at the youthful age of 27, in a “country” that was not only far away but far inferior, remote and susceptible to all sorts of life-threatening diseases as compared to his home country France is not of the ordinary. He and his team learnt Luganda at an alarming speed and later enormously contributed to its modernization most especially, its authography.

Luganda is the language spoken by the Baganda who are the inhabitants of the land that Fr. Lourdel Mapeera, Brother Amans Delmas, Fr. Leon Livinhac (who became the first Roman Catholic bishop of Uganda), Fr. Louis Barbot and Fr. Ludovic Girault came to evangelise at the invitation of Kabaka Muteesa I in 1875.

Mapeera must have been a father- figure and great teacher given the supersonic speed at which converts were joining him, to profess the Roman Catholic faith, to the extent of accepting death only after six years of Catechumen instruction! His must have been a tested and effective method of instruction. It is only after the Martyrdom that we get to see that all these were part of a grand Divine plan, in which Mapeera was a mere instrument.

Buganda Kingdom too has had a well crafted role that plays out itself right up to the present day and may be, years to come. From the invitation of the Missionaries, the welcoming of these Missionaries, granting them land for the bases of their evangelisaton, the Martyrdom and the donation of our Holy places of Martyrdom as we know them today. Buganda continues to have her cast clearly cut out and thus confirming that this country enjoys special favours from God. It is His carefully and specially chosen land for the effecting of His plans for the salvation of the world and of course, for His greater glory.

Namugongo which until the Martyrdom was a dreaded place for execution of criminals and disobedient Buganda subjects is today a glorious place that attracts pilgrims, in their millions, to praise God for the gift of the Martyrs.

For Mukaajanga, the Kabaka’s chief executioner, identities like Roman Catholic or Anglican meant nothing to him. His preoccupation was to eliminate those rebellious young men who threatened his Kabaka’s throne.

But the Divine Hand further rolled out the plan in an astonishing manner. The Anglican Martyrs were executed separately from the Roman Catholic Martyrs! While this helped the two religions to cater for their different interests, this was among the very first miracles about the Uganda Martyrs.

The Roman Catholic Church has an elaborate system of verifying the authenticity of the Sainthood or Martyrdom of her faithful. The case of the 22 Roman Catholic Martyrs could be described as obvious but still they were subjected to the same process like any other candidate: a candidate has to be scrutinized for Beatification and then Canonisation.

The Uganda Martyrs did not only bring Uganda to international limelight but they transformed, and continue to do so, the religious, political, social and economic aspects of the country. They have not only revealed God’s love for Uganda but they are proof that the country enjoys a special place before the Almighty. The Martyrs continue to shower blessings on the people of Uganda and it is one reason faith flourishes amid all tribulations.

Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka Nakabaale, first Bishop South of the Sahara, strengthened the foundation laid by the missionaries and that is the reason why the Roman Catholic Church continues to flourish under indigenous leadership.

As Pope Francis visits Uganda from November 27- 29, 2015 the Roman Catholic Church is divided into four Ecclesiastical Provinces each headed by an Archbishop. Kampala is led by Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Mbarara is led by Archbishop Paul Bakyenga, Gulu is led by Archbishop John Baptist Odama who is also the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, and Tororo is led by Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo.

As the Roman Catholic Church flourishes in this once Pearl of Africa, it is not far fetched to say that soon the country could have four Cardinals. With God, nothing is impossible. Uganda got the first Bishop, South of the Sahara in the name of Joseph Kiwanuka Nakabaale (RIP) who was followed by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga. His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Archbishop Emeritus Kampala, is the only Cardinal currently in the country. It is worth noting that the Papal Nuncio to Algeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, also originates from the land of the Martyrs. 

Blessed Pope Paul VI did not only canonize the Uganda Martyrs in 1964 but he honoured them with a pilgrimage in 1969.  Pope Saint John Paul II too made a pilgrimage to Namugongo in 1993.

Francis is the third Pontiff to make a pilgrimage to Namugongo in honour of our Martyrs. The honour with Sainthood of the previous Popes who visited Uganda and made pilgrimages to Namugongo tempts one to believe that Papal pilgrimages to Namugongo are rewarded with sainthood. Admiration for these young men who shed their blood for Christ is what continues to attract Popes to Uganda and Namugongo. And these young men cannot fail to intercede for them to be with them in that eternal glory.

Pope Francis specifically comes to join Uganda and the world to celebrate the Golden Jubilee for the Canonisation of the 22 Roman Catholic Uganda Martyrs.

So, is Francis a Pope Saint in waiting? Why not!  Namugongo is undoubtedly a place of Spiritual upliftment and nourishment. With these, renewal in Christ takes hold and we become members of the family of God. This is the way to Sainthood which the Uganda Martyrs, Blessed Pope Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II led. The beauty of it all, many more are in their footsteps.

Even the chief executioner of the Uganda Martyrs, relatives say, was baptized in the Anglican Church at the time of his death! Mukaajanga became Daniel just as Saul became Paul!

Pope Francis comes at a time when the list of Saints and Martyrs in the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is growing longer every other day. Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa were beatified. Monsignor Aloysious Ngobya and Sister Amadeo are also on the verge of their beatification.

The Roman Catholic Church is also seriously promoting the cause of Mapeera’s beatification. Prayers continue to be said to have him beatified and subsequently declared a Saint just as was the case with his students, the Uganda Martyrs. He was the inspiration and mentor of them all.

The cause for the beatification of missionary Mother Kevin, founder of the Little Sisters Of St. Francis (L.S.O.S.F) is under way.

With all fairness, can Mapeera be anywhere else other than in the place which he fervently wished for his converts now the glorious Uganda Martyrs? If the Uganda Martyrs intercede for us, how much more can they intercede for the man of God who led them to that glory?   And once the Roman Catholic Church has declared him a Saint, he will deserve to be Patron of missionaries.

 Who knows whether it will be Pope Francis to beatify or even declare them Saints? It could as well be Francis to make Uganda the first country in Africa to have four Cardinals at a go. And who knows whether Francis, like his ancestors in the Papacy who honoured the Uganda Martyrs with a pilgrimage to Namugongo, is a Pope Saint in waiting?

As of now, the undisputed fact is that the blood of the Uganda Martyrs continues to water the seed of faith sown by the humble servant of God, Mapeera. The growing number of Christians called to witness Christ is strong testimony that indeed Uganda is growing in faith and that the blood of the Uganda Martyrs is flowing to all corners of the earth. The Uganda Martyrs are not only interceding for Ugandans alone but all Christians and all people of good will.