32 young men weren't born to be beaten and some burned to death; they were loyal subjects to Kabaka (King) Mwanga II, and it all went wrong because they believed in Jesus Christ (Christianity).
Back in 1885, young men and some boys by the names of John Mary Mzee, Charles Lwanga, Balikudembe, Kizito, just to mention, abandoned their traditional beliefs and accepted the teachings of the Missionaries that believed in Christ hence became Christians.
This displeased the Kabaka who ordered them to renounce their faith to which they refused.
On 3rd June 1886, Kabaka Mwanga decreed that they should be put to death for their insolence.
These men were rounded up, beaten and dragged by their backs up to one of hills in the central region of the Kingdom.
To date that hill is called Namugongo which translates to "Mugongo" the back and "Namugongo" by the back, derived from the act of dragging the Uganda Martyrs by their backs.
Atop this hill seats the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, a majestic site that topped my list of Kampala's treasures to visit.
Started in 1967, the Uganda Martyrs Shrine was completed in 1975; since then it stands tall with the magnificence of an ancient Cathedral whose design derives inspiration from an African Hut structure.
With a seating capacity of 1000 people, the seats in this Basilica are arranged in circular form. 22 copper pillars of over 100 feet long keep the shrine upright.
A lake was excavated in honor of the Martyrs and bares a pavilion that takes the form of a boat.
That Pavilion has a deck-like feature which is used for Holy Mass as the Altar, and beneath that Altar, lies a Sacristy; a kitchen and bedroom which Pope Francis shortly occupied on his visit to Uganda in 2015.
Spectacular is this Site but deeper is the fact that it's the land upon which 15 of the Martyrs were burned alive for their refusal to denounce Christianity.
In 1920, during Pope Benedict XV 's reign, the Martyrs were canonized as Saints. Every 3rd day of June Uganda celebrates Martyrs day, and has been doing so for the past 99 years.
Pilgrims from within and out of Uganda make their way to this magnificent site; some travelling by car while others opting to walk barefooted from as far as Kenya, as a sacrifice in honor of the Martyrs.
Through Art and architecture, Ugandans pay tribute to these Martyrs; with the recent addition to the tribute being the construction of the Church of Uganda's "Uganda Martyrs Museum."
"It's a one stop tourist attraction that will showcase the rich religious and cultural values of Uganda."
- Daily Monitor
A visit to this Museum visually walked me through the life of the Martyrs and their death; some by slaughter, and others by a slow grueling holocaust.
Through sculpture and paintings... The young and imaginative minds have preserved Uganda's history for all future generations...
Inspirational it was, More of Kampala's treasures awaited.
Image Source: Pinterest
No comments:
Post a Comment