Uganda: Thousands Walk to Honour Martyrs

http://allafrica.com/stories/200806030093.html

[allAfrica.com] 3 June 2008--Thousands of pilgrims, some of whom have walked for weeks, converge at Namugongo today to celebrate the Uganda Martyrs Day. Believers from Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, the DR Congo, South Africa and Europe will remember the courage of the 45 Christians who were executed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga on June 3, 1886.

The young men stood by their faith despite Mwanga's order to renounce Christianity between 1885 and 1887. Mwanga was angered that the converts put Christ above the king.

Instead of cringing from death, the martyrs sang hymns and prayed for their tormentors, who were headed by Mukajjanga.

A total of 45 faithful were either burned or castrated and dismembered as the Kabaka fought to assert absolute power over the kingdom. Twenty-three of them were Anglican and 22 Catholic believers (see graphic).