Kabaka Mwanga is hero - Mayiga
Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga (L) with Mr Ssalongo Mulumba, the caretaker of the Kasubi Tombs, at the monthly inspection of the tombs in Kampala yesterday. Photo BY Abubaker Lubowa
What you need to know:
Hailed. Buganda premier says Kabaka’s directive to kill the Uganda Martyrs turned Uganda into a prestigious country.
Kampala. Ugandans should not condemn Ssekabaka Mwanga 11 but extol him as a national hero whose orders to execute the Uganda Martyrs have earned the country prestige, the Buganda premier has said.
Mr Charles Peter Mayiga said Ssekabaka Mwanga’s actions were a blessing in disguise since every Pope and other people across the world pay homage to Uganda to specifically identify with the martyrs who died for their faith.
“Uganda is one of the few, if not the only country in Africa that has hosted three popes. This is not by coincidence. It is because Mwanga planted the seeds for us by ordering the killing of the martyrs. I feel very proud of him,” said Mr Mayiga.
Mr Mayiga was addressing Buganda subjects at a monthly tour to Kasubi Royal Tombs which are under reconstruction after they mysteriously went ablaze in 2010.
Besides, the tombs are where Kabaka Mwanga and other past Buganda kings were buried.
The Katikkiro and other Buganda dignitaries visit the royal tombs every first day of the month to check on the progress of the reconstruction work.
The Uganda Martyrs are a group of 23 Anglicans and 22 Catholic coverts to Christianity who were murdered between November 1885 and January 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga, Kabaka Mutebi’s grandfather.
A debate has, however, raged on as to whether Ssekabaka Mwanga II was justified in ordering the killing of the Uganda Martyrs or whether the martyrs could be classified as rebels who would not have survived any regime or kingdom.
The katikkiro scoffed at people who questioned why Pope Francis held a meeting with Kabaka Ronald Mutebi during his three day historic visit to Uganda, reminding Ugandans that the missionaries who taught religion were invited by Kabaka Mutesa 1.
He added that if the Kabaka had not invited missionaries, perhaps religion would not have come into Uganda at the time.
“In case you wonder why the Pope met Kabaka Mutebi, the answer is simple. He is the grandson of Mutesa who invited missionaries and thus is the head of the church. We explained to the Pope the history between Buganda and religion in Uganda and he was amused,” he said.
Since the world was commemorating the World Aids Day yesterday, the katikkiro also cautioned the youth against reckless behaviour that could lead them to contract the deadly HIV and other sexually related infections. He added that Uganda cannot develop when the people are bed-ridden as a result of HIV.
Beatification
The Catholic Church beatified the martyrs of its faith in 1920 and canonised them in 1964. Majority of the martyrs were burned alive between May 25 and June 3, 1986 in Namugongo.
