St. Charles Lwanga and Companions

Their story

Catholic missionaries arrived in the kingdom of Buganda, in present-day Uganda, in 1879, and many people, including young pages at the royal court, eagerly embraced the faith. The young king, Mwanga, at first tolerated the Christians, but he grew to hate them, especially because the Christian pages refused his sexual advances. In 1885 he had Joseph Mukasa, the Catholic head of the pages, beheaded for rebuking him. Charles Lwanga, a young court official, took Joseph's place as leader and protector of the pages. He taught the faith to the boys and young men in his care and shielded them from the king. In May 1886 the furious king demanded that the Christians give up their faith. The night before they were taken, Charles baptized several of the young catechumens. Then he and the others were marched to Namugongo, where on June 3, 1886, Charles and many of his companions were burned alive. The youngest, Kizito, was about fourteen. They went to their deaths praying and singing. In all, twenty-two Catholics were martyred between 1885 and 1887, and many Anglicans also died for their faith. Pope St. Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions in 1964. Today millions of pilgrims walk to Namugongo every June 3, and the Church in Uganda and across Africa has grown from their witness.