Description:
Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrines in Namugongo, Kyaliwajjala, is the largest pilgrimage destination in Africa. On the report of the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Namugongo Parish started as a sub-parish of Nsambya with its grass thatched church at Kyaliwajjala where Vienna Academy is currently located.
The Namugongo Shrines are situated in Kyaliwajjala, Kira Municipality in Wakiso district, almost 15 kilometers from Kampala – the capital city of Uganda.
In the middle of every year, on 3rd of June, pilgrims from all over the globe congregate at the Namugongo Martyrs’ shrines to commemorate and honor the day, of June 03rd 1886, when the Uganda Martyrs were miserably massacred on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga for refusing to repudiate Christianity.
It is claimed that there were 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic Christian martyrs who were massacred between November 1885 and January 1887. 12 of the 22 Catholic Martyrs were burnt to death at Namugongo – Nakiyanja side of Church of Uganda – Anglican Church.
Other Martyrs were hacked to pieces like Andrew Kaggwa, Ponsiano Ngondwe, Matthias Mulumba, and Denis Ssebuggwawo. Others were speared to death at the place where the Namugongo shrine altar rests.
The 22 martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV on the 6th of June 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI on the 18th of October 1964. They are regarded as saints in the Catholic Church.
Background:
Namugongo was an execution centre in the Buganda kingdom for groups of people regarded as the worst criminals by the king. It is believed that the earlier known executions in Namugongo took place in 1877 when Muteesa I, by then King of Buganda, ordered the killing of 70 men for disobeying him.
Eight years later, his son, Kabaka Mwanga, ordered the believers to abandon their faith or be killed instantly at Namugongo – a thing they chose ahead of abandoning their faith. Mwanga wanted to destroy everything Christianity stood for but up to date Christianity is still alive though the monarch is gone.
Namugongo shrine’s Birth:
As already stated above, the Namugongo Parish started as a sub-parish of Nsambya with its grass thatched church at Kyaliwajjala where Vienna Academy is currently located. Later in 1935, a young Dutch Mill-Hill priest, Fr.
Stephen Walters, bought eight acres of land where the shrine now stands and started advocating for a parish at the spot where St. Charles Lwanga was killed. The first Parish Priest was Fr. Peter Van Rooyen and the late Msgr Lawrence Mbwega was the first Ugandan Parish Priest after the Mill Hill Fathers.
In 1967, the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga, then Archbishop of newly created Kampala archdiocese, decided to establish a befitting martyrs’ monument at the site.
According to one researcher, he was opposed by some sections of the Church who considered its interference into the Mill Hill missionaries’ initiative. But Nsubuga’s will prevailed and his fundraising started.
Overview:
The Architect of the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine (Basilica of Uganda Martyrs) was called Dr Danhinden; he designed it to resemble an African hut, swathed around 22 copper pillars signifying the 22 Martyrs and a white cap on top. The circular interior was to accommodate up to 1,000 seats.
Construction began in 1967 and lasted for eight years to be completed. It was officially opened by His Eminence Cardinal Sergio Pignedoli on June 3rd 1975. Thousands of pilgrims, including the by then President of Uganda, Idi Amin Dada Oumee, attended the ceremony.
On the 7th of February 1993, Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage and officially declared it a minor Basilica, which Rome bestows upon certain churches following a major spiritual event.
The shrine has been surrounded by a healthy green compound with thriving trees and an alleyway that leads to a man-made pond that once, according to historical accounts, served as a cleansing ground for executioners.
There is a holy lake at the shrine where many pilgrims have often drawn water from it and later given testimonies about its healing powers.
Visiting the Shrine:
There are two Uganda Martyrs’ churches (shrines) in Namugongo for both the Catholic and Anglican Martyrs and are located within a walking distance from each other. The official pilgrimage day [as already stated] is on the 3rd of June each year; Namugongo receives millions of pilgrims on that day, including public figures from all over the globe. However, you can still visit Namugongo all year round, besides its peak being on 3rd June.
The place has to date been visited by three different popes. When Pope Francis said his pontificate mass on November 28th 2015, he became the third pope to visit the shrine. The first to visit was Pope Paul VI whose pontificate mass was on August 2nd 1969.
He consecrated the altar which was built at the spot where Saint Charles Lwanga was killed. On February 07th 1993, Pope John Paul II said his Pontificate mass at Namugongo when he officially declared the shrine a minor Basilica.
Many other public figures in Africa and other parts of the world have visited the Namugongo Shrine as well. Therefore while on a Kampala city tour at least spare time and visit this historical site in the outskirts of Kampala.