San Carlo Lwanga and his 12 companions are the first martyrs of Africa. Witnesses of Christ until martyrdom left exemplary testimony of faith.
The Ugandan martyrs, among whom the figure of Saint Charles Lwanga stands out, were all young people, aged between 14 and 30, as recalled by the Roman Martyrology. In 19th century Africa, they suffered persecution from the king Mwanga as Christians.
The area of the African continent where these young people were located was Uganda. They were a group of converts when the missionaries called “white fathers” arrived in the country led by Cardinal Charles Lavigerie. The commemoration of the individual martyrs is placed on the respective anniversaries of their death, but on June 3rd they are all remembered together with San Carlo Lwangathe best known of them.
The evangelizing mission in Africa in the 19th century
The story of these martyrs unfolds under the reign of Mwanga II, king of Bugandawhich is now part of Uganda, between November 1885 and mid-1886. When the so-called “white fathers” arrive from the West to evangelize the local populations, the meeting with Carlo Lwanga and the others takes place.
He belongs to the Ngabi clan and all were servants, officials and pages in the court of King Mutessa. Under the reign of this king, Christians do not receive particular hostility, nor do missionaries who manage to operate and make the truth of the Gospel and the figure of Jesus Christ known to those who could not even know who he was. But then, the announcement of salvation of Christianity is hindered by Mutessa’s successor, her son Mwanga who, in turn, king, carries out violent persecution.
Carlo Lwanga, newly converted, was called to play the role of prefect of the Royal Hall at the king’s court. He becomes the point of reference for others who have just converted and provides him with support and encouragement on his journey of faith.
Persecution and martyrdom
Attacks on Christians began in 1885. The then prefect of the King’s Hall, Saint Joseph Mukasaa young converted catechist had tried to dissuade King Mwanga from his criminal intent, but without success.
According to some sources the king could not stand the refusal of these Christians to have homosexual relations with him. The first to be beheaded was Saint Joseph Musaka, aged 25, whose mortal remains were set on fire.
He was put in his place Carlo Lwanga, as prefect of the Royal Hall, 20 years old, who had recently been baptized. Neither he nor his pages, who had also become Christians, bowed to the king’s requests and the following year, in 1886, all were sentenced to death.
The pages who had not yet been baptized received Baptism in danger of their lives from Saint Charles himself. Among them there was one of the youngest, Kizito, only 14 years old. With true faith they went towards martyrdom: no denial, no compromise for saving their lives, they demonstrated that love for Jesus is worth much more.
They were taken to Namugongo, the place where the execution took place. “I’ll take your hand. If we must die for Jesus, we will die together, hand in hand.” Carlo Lwanga said this to little Kizito to give him courage. There were 22 in total and 8 of them were killed along the way.
The others, including Carlo Lwanga, arrived at the site of the martyrdom. They were burned alive or pierced with swords. Charles was martyred separately from the others. To his executioner, while he was trying to throw the flames on him, he said: “Please, repent, and become a Christian like me”. It was June 3, 1886.
The cult of the Ugandan martyrs
Before dying, one of them, Bruno Ssrerunkuma exclaimed: “A spring that has many springs will never dry up. And when we are no longer here, others will come after usorthe”.
The Namugongo hill then became a destination for pilgrimages. Their martyrdom did not leave anyone indifferent and was a strong testimony of faith recognized by many. In 1920 they were beatified by Pope Benedict XV. Subsequently in 1934 Pope Pius Then in 1964, with Pope Paul VI, the canonization came.
In 1993, during a visit to Namugongo, Pope Saint John Paul II stated that “the heroic sacrifice of the martyrs contributed to bringing Uganda and the whole of Africa closer to Christthe true light that illuminates all men”.
