THE UGANDA MARTYRS' STORY IS PROOF OF FAITH

Most probably not but I will bet that names like James Buuzaabalyaawo, Antanansio Bazzekuketta, Nowa Mawaggali, Gonzaga Gonza and Bruno Sserunkuuma surely do! These are men popular for their act of valor in Uganda; all these ceased to experience the sunrise between 1885 and 1887.

History narrates that these men known to us now as the Uganda martyrs attained such a non-craved crown by the orders of the Kabaka (King) Mwanga II. Historians and researchers insinuate that these men might have died for political reasons such as undermining the existing hierarchy, questioning the orders of the Kabaka and so on but most importantly to the believers (Christians), these young men died for their faith.

I now remember a weird joke a friend of mine told me in high school concerning the Uganda martyrs. He said that these men were summoned by Kabaka Mwanga II who asked for their names one by one, the first said, James Bazzekuketta (literally translating, “I have come to spy”), the next one said that he was Nowa Mawaggali (literally translating impudence or being big headed), as if that wasn’t enough the other one said that he was James Buuzaabalyaawo (in the ears of the King it sounds arrogant literally asking Kabaka to ask those next to him for this fellow’s name). It couldn’t have gone any worse when another proudly declared that he was Matiya Mulumba (literally translating invader), there wasn’t any single way to survive the wrath of the Kabaka, they were burnt alive ashistory decodes.

Now jokes aside, every year on the 3^rd of June, pilgrims flood Namugongo to cherish and celebrate the acts of the Uganda martyrs, you might have different reasons why this orthodoxy has survived recent time civilization and threats of a popularized pandemic but I will say it is one reason, faith! Believers under different religions walk miles in the hope that they will connect to the blessings from attempting to suffer what the martyrs experienced and overcome their current turmoil.

To me, the story of the Uganda martyrs is a proof that faith is still at hand, people still believe in the one true God, they believe in saints, angels, miracles, signs and wonders. Why for any other reason would someone sip untreated water that has been labelled a sanctuary of disease causing micro organism expect faith that they will be healed of their infirmities? There is a working divine power that is beyond logic that when believers do the due diligence to believe, they retrieve a reward that money can’t buy through faith and hope. Secularism and its cousin liberalism are a revolution that never or will never happen!

Stephen who is the first Christian martyr of the New Testament was stoned to death as the scriptures say (Acts 7:55-60) but in that transgression, he looked steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. How I pray that the story of the Uganda martyrs transcends beyond a mere religious ritual and evoke the children of God, men and women of faith to see something beyond the physical acts. For the times have changed and God hasn’t called us to be martyrs ourselves but to worship Him in spirit and in truth. He (God) has also approved men and women with diverse signs, wonders and miracles to show us His ways; if we hearken to them and believe we shall see the glory that is here on earth and be the heads that God wants us to be and not the tails.

Written by Lwasa Deric Hope

The writer is a member of the National Christian Students Association (NCSA).