Remembering Uganda's First Martyrs: The Busega Trio and Princess Nalumansi

Long before the famed executions at Namugongo, the seeds of Christian persecution in Buganda were sown with the deaths of three teenage boys in Busega. Makko Kakumba (16), Yusuf Rugarama (12), and Nuwa Sserwanga (19) were arrested and killed on January 31, 1885, marking what historians consider the initial phase of martyrdom under King Mwanga II.

These early converts, linked to Alexander Mackay of the Church Missionary Society, served in the royal court. Their refusal to renounce their faith led to their brutal execution, reportedly involving torture and dismemberment before being burned at Mpiima-Erebera, a site historically associated with cruel punishments.

Reverend Edward Walakira of the Uganda Martyrs’ Church in Busega notes the difficulty in reconstructing their full story due to limited documentation. “Busega holds a unique place in Uganda’s Christian history because it marks the beginning of the martyrdom period,” he stated. While Namugongo saw mass killings, Busega represents isolated, less documented incidents.

A memorial at the Busega church honors their sacrifice, with an annual Mass held on the last Sunday of January. However, the narrative of martyrdom extends beyond these three. Princess Clara Catherine Nalumansi, daughter of Kabaka Mutesa I, was a royal convert who faced persecution.

Initially Muslim, Nalumansi converted first to Protestantism and then Catholicism, becoming the first royal family member to embrace Christianity. Her conversion reportedly troubled her brother, King Mwanga II, leading to her execution at her residence in Kazo, Bwaise, on August 2, 1888. Efforts have been made towards her beatification, recognizing her significance.

Despite their different places and times of death, the Catholic Church commemorates all martyrs collectively through canonization, unifying their stories under a broader religious narrative. Their sacrifices, though lesser-known than those at Namugongo, form the foundational chapters of Christian history in Uganda.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/the-lesser-known-uganda-martyrs-5482908