Why catholic martyrs are more revered than the rest

The story of the Uganda Martyrs is probably one of the most re-told stories there is in the Uganda Christian faith context. The 45 men that gave their lives in a grandiose show of faith etched their names in history.
However, for almost the entire part of that history, it is the 22 Catholic martyrs that have been celebrated the most. What you will not hear of is that there were another 23 or so Anglican martyrs and Muslims too.

History tells of the 22 Catholic Martyrs killed between 1885 and 1887 by Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda; 13 of the martyrs were burnt to death at Namugongo.
What history does not tell us is that a decade before the Christian martyrs embraced their end; Muslim men had also met the same fate in Namugongo – perished in a blazing inferno – on the orders of Kabaka Mutesa I, Mwanga’s father.
History does not give us figures of those martyrs. However, some history books and collaborations put the number between 50 and 70.

“I think the Catholic church – which has the largest following on the planet – moved fast to not only recognise but prop it martyrs and that made a huge difference. Other faiths have taken long to do that,” say Julius Twinamatsiko, a seminarian at Kitabi seminary.
Following the deaths, the Roman Catholic Church used the episode to make the victims the focus of a “cult of martyrs”.
On June 6, 1920, the Catholic martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964. The other two martyrs were speared to death in Paimol, Gulu in the North of Uganda in October 1918.
They were beatified by Pope John Paul II on 20th October 2002.

Infrastructure
“Then there is the issue of infrastructure. The setting up of the magnificent Namugongo shrine structure created a convergence point for many,” explains Jamada Musa, a Muslim scholar at the Islamic University in Uganda.
“When you compare the Anglican shrine or the mosque set in the same place to remember the Muslim martyrs, then you would understand why the Catholics carry such an allure.”

In the 1970s, ex-President Idi Amin attempted to build a mosque in the memory of the Muslim martyrs. Land for the project was allocated opposite the current Anglican martyrs’ church in Namugongo. However, Amin was ousted before his plans would come to life.
On the other hand, the Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs at Namugongo was built in 1968 attracting massive pilgrimages and the Catholic Church is currently working out plans to expand the shrine to even accommodate larger numbers.”

Publicity
Whenever there is commemoration of the June 3 event, the Catholic Church always makes sure that they organise an epic event on a global scale with the Church in Rome overseeing proceedings.
Twinamatsiko says the June 3 Martyrs Day has given the church a platform for them to celebrate their martyrs like Charles Lwanga, an advantage that the other churches have not grasped and built upon.

Subsequently,Fr Francis Muwonge, the executive secretary at the Namugongo shrine says each year, Namugongo has witnessed an influx of close to a million pilgrims and an audience of millions upon millions across the globe.
“For now, it looks like it will take a whole lot of effort from other faiths to pull the names of their fallen afore. More so, it will require a whole lot of investment and dedication from their followers, otherwise the Catholic martyrs will continue to remain the most celebrated for the foreseeable future,” he adds.

Names of Uganda Catholic Martyrs

Fifty years ago, Pope Paul VI, canonized 22 Catholic Uganda Martyrs on October 18, 1964
St. Charles Lwanga was a Muganda by tribe from Buddu county (Birinzi village) but there are mixed findings about his parents.
St. Matthias Mulumba Kalemba was a Musoga by tribe from Bunya county in Busoga. His biological parents, however, are not known.
St. Noah Mawaggali was a Muganda by tribe from Ssingo county and of Bush-Buck (Ngabi) clan -Tragelaphus Scriptus. His father was Musazi and mother Meme.
St. Kizito was the youngest of all the Martyrs who died at the age of 14. He was a Muganda by tribe from Bulemeezi county.

St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe was the head of Catholic Church during the absence of Catholic Missionaries and a leader all Christians.
St. Denis Ssebuggwawo (Musajja-mukulu) was by tribe a Muganda from Bulemeezi county. His father was Kajansi and mother, Nsonga ( Musoga). .
St. Pontian Ngondwe was a Muganda by tribe from Kyaggwe county and of White Egret (Nnyonyi) clan -Bubulcus Lucidus. .

St. Andrew Kaggwa Muddu-aguma Mugoowa was a Munyoro by tribe from Bugangayizi county but his parents are not known as he was just captured from his home-land by Buganda raiders.
St. Athanasius Bazzekuketta is a Muganda by tribe. Though his county of origin is unknown, his father was Kafeero Kabalu Sebaggala and his mother Namukwaya (Buffalo Clan)…

St. Gonzaga Gonza was a Musoga from Bulamoogi county. His parents are not known, though it is said in various writings that he belonged to Lion (Mpologoma) clan..
St. Luke Baanabakintu a Muganda by tribe from Ggomba county. His father was Mukwanga and mother Kusuubiza of Seed Clan. Baanabakintu was of Lungfish (Mamba) clan—Protopterus.. .
St. James Buuzaabalyawo was a Muganda from Mawookota county. His father was Sebikejje but his mother is unknown. He was of Black and white Colubus Monkey (Ngeye) clan -Colobus Polykomos.

St. Gyavira Musoke was a Muganda from Busiro county, his father was Semalago but his mother is not known. He was of Lungfish (Mamba) clan—Protopterus..
St. Ambrose Kibuuka Katikamu was a Muganda by tribe from Ssingo county. His father was Kisuule and mother Ampera...
St. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo was by tribe a Munyoro. His parents and county of origin are not known as he was captured during the inter-kingdom wars and brought to the king’s palace.
St. Achilles Kiwanuka was a Muganda by tribe from Ssingo county. He is from Scaly Ant-Eater or Pangolin (Lugave) clan.

St. Mbaaga Tuzinde was a Muganda by tribe from Busiro county and of Lungfish (Mamba) clan - Protopterus.
St. Mugagga Lubowa was a Muganda by tribe from Mawookota. His father was Mazinga and his mother Nassubwa. He was of Leopard (Ngo) clan -Felix Pardus…
St. Mukasa Kiriwawanvu was a Muganda by tribe from Kyaggwe county and of Sheep (Ndiga) clan - ovis. His father was Lumanyika and mother Malokuvaawo (Musoga).

St. Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo was a Munyoro by tribe from Mwenge-Toro . His parents are unknown because he was captured in the inter-kingdom wars and brought to the palaca as a captive..
St. Bruno Sserunkuuma was by tribe a Muganda from Buddu county. His father was Namunjulirwa and mother Ndibaliza…
St. John Mary Kiwanuka Muzeeyi was the last Catholic Martyr to be killed by king Mwanga. He was a Muganda from Buddu county.

Christianity in Uganda

1875
Explorer and journalist H. M. Stanley arrives at the palace of Kabaka Muteesa I, and the Kabaka writes a letter to England requesting for missionaries to be sent to his kingdom.

June 1877
Anglican Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) arrive at the Kabaka’s Palace and soon start spreading their faith among the natives. Key among them is Alexander Mackay.
1885
The first martyrs are killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga, as the new faith starts to clash with the Kabaka’s reign. Andrew Kaggwa is one of the very first killed.

1886
The famous mass killing of martyrs takes place, the majority of them burned at Namugongo –comprising of the canonised Catholic martyrs as well as several protestant ones.

1888 – 1892
The Buganda religious wars erupt, in form of a three-way struggle between Protestants, Catholics and Muslims for the political control of the country. Protestants win control with support of British Imperial forces, but agreements are made to co-exist with Catholics and Muslims.

June 6, 1920
Pope Benedict XV beatifies the Martyrs as “Charles Lwanga and he others”, starting on the journey of declaring them Saints of the Catholic Church.

October 29 1939
Joseph Kiwanuka is consecrated Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, becoming the first bishop of the Catholic Church to come from Sub-saharan Africa in modern times.

October 18 1964
The 22 Catholic Martyrs of Uganda are solemnly proclaimed Saints by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome 1977. Bishop Kiwanuka assists the Pope in the ceremony.

1968
The Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs at Namugongo is built and becomes the venue of massive pilgrimages.
February 1977
Archbishop Janan Luwum is killed by President Idi Amin Dada after he critics the dictator over his terror-bestrewn leadership.

2008
Archbishop Luwum is declared a saint and a statue of him is elected at West Minister Abbey in London, the seat of the Anglican branch of Christianity, making him one of the foremost African icons of the faith.