Mayiga Calls for Recognition of Muteesa I and Mwanga II During Uganda Martyrs Day Commemorations
KAMPALA, Uganda — The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has called on Ugandans to recognize the contributions of Kabaka Muteesa I and Kabaka Mwanga II during Uganda Martyrs Day commemorations, arguing that both monarchs played important roles in shaping the country’s Christian heritage.
In his Martyrs Day message, Mayiga said the annual commemoration should not only celebrate the Uganda Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their faith but also acknowledge historical figures whose actions influenced the spread and growth of Christianity in Uganda.
The Katikkiro noted that St. Charles Lwanga was executed on June 3, 1886, at Namugongo, the site that today hosts the Uganda Martyrs Shrine and attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
He highlighted that Uganda’s Christian history includes 24 canonized Catholic Martyrs and 23 Anglican Martyrs, many of whom were executed at Nakiyanja during the religious persecutions of the late 19th century.
Mayiga described Kabaka Muteesa I as one of the most influential figures in Uganda’s history, crediting him with opening Buganda to foreign missionaries and teachers who introduced Christianity and formal education to the kingdom.
“As we commemorate the Martyrs and Christianity, we should pay respects to Ssekabaka Muteesa I, who invited teachers and missionaries and is the father of modern Uganda,” Mayiga said.
The Buganda Premier also called for a balanced historical reflection on Kabaka Mwanga II, whose reign is closely associated with the persecution and execution of the Uganda Martyrs.
According to Mayiga, Mwanga II’s actions should be viewed within the broader context of his struggle to protect Buganda’s sovereignty at a time of increasing foreign religious and political influence.
“Mwanga II ordered the killing of the martyrs as he struggled for his country’s sovereignty, but in the process planted the Christian seed in Uganda,” Mayiga said.
The Uganda Martyrs remain among the most revered religious figures in the country and continue to be a symbol of faith, sacrifice, and resilience for millions of Christians across Africa and the world.
Uganda Martyrs Day is also one of the country’s biggest religious tourism events, drawing pilgrims from across the continent and beyond. The annual celebrations generate significant economic activity for businesses in and around Namugongo, including hotels, transport operators, restaurants, and local vendors.
This year’s commemorations, however, were conducted on a smaller scale after authorities cancelled the main national gathering as part of measures to prevent the spread of Ebola.
Despite the restrictions, religious leaders and believers continued to honor the legacy of the Uganda Martyrs through prayers, virtual services, and smaller commemorative events held across the country.
