In his efforts to curb Christian influence and try to regain the traditional, customary powers and authorities over his subjects, the then King of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga II ordered for the killing of Anglican and Catholic converts to Christianity between 31 January 1885 and 27 January 1887.
Mwanga precipitated a showdown, ordering the converts to choose between their new faith, and complete obedience to his orders. Those unwilling to renounce their new faith would be subject to death.
Rather than deter the growth of Christianity, the martyrdom of these early believers seems to have sparked its growth instead. As has been observed in many other instances, the determination of the martyrs proved to be the seed of faith.
Every year, June 3rd, when most of the martyrs were killed, is marked as a national holiday in Uganda. It is also marked worldwide on the church calender as a day to honor the Martyrs
The complete list of the known martyrs is given below. The list of forty five known Catholic and Protestant martyrs includes only those who could be formally accounted for, many more murders went unreported and without a record.
Uganda’s Christian Martyrs
| Martyr’s Name | Birthplace | Clan | Religion | M A R T Y R E D | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Place | Manner | |||||
| 1 | Kakumba, Makko | Buganda | Ffumbe | Anglican | Jan 31, 1885 | Busega | Dismembered and Burned |
| 2 | Rugarama, Yusuf | Ankole | Anglican | Jan 31, 1885 | Busega | Dismembered and Burned | |
| 3 | Sserwanga, Nuwa | Buganda | Ngeye | Anglican | Jan 31, 1885 | Busega | Dismembered and Burned |
| 4 | Balikuddembe, Yosefu Mukasa | Buganda | Kayozi | Catholic | Nov 15, 1885 | Nakivubo | Beheaded and Burned |
| 5 | Mukasa, Musa | Buganda | Ffumbe | Anglican | May 25, 1886 | Munyonyo | Speared |
| 6 | Kaggwa, Anderea | Bunyoro | Catholic | May 26, 1886 | Munyonyo | Beheaded | |
| 7 | Ngondwe, Ponsiano | Buganda | Nnyonyi Nnyange | Catholic | May 26, 1886 | Ttakajjunge | Beheaded and Dismembered |
| 8 | Ssebuggwawo, Denis | Buganda | Musu | Catholic | May 26, 1886 | Munyonyo | Beheaded |
| 9 | Bazzekuketta, Antanansio | Buganda | Nkima | Catholic | May 27, 1886 | Nakivubo | Dismembered |
| 10 | Gonza, Gonzaga | Busoga | Mpologoma | Catholic | May 27, 1886 | Lubowa | Beheaded |
| 11 | Mbwa, Eriya | Buganda | Ndiga | Anglican | May 27, 1886 | Mengo | Castrated |
| 12 | Muddu-aguma | Anglican | May 27, 1886 | Mengo | Castrated | ||
| 13 | Mulumba, Matiya | Busoga | Lugave | Catholic | May 27, 1886 | Old Kampala | Dismembered |
| 14 | Muwanga, Daudi | Buganda | Ngonge | Anglican | Namanve | Castrated | |
| 15 | Kayizzi, Kibuuka | Buganda | Mmamba | Anglican | May 31, 1886 | Mityana | Castrated |
| 16 | Mawaggali, Nowa | Buganda | Ngabi | Catholic | May 31, 1886 | Mityana | Speared, Ravaged by wild dogs |
| 17 | Mayanja, Kitoogo | Buganda | Ffumbe | Anglican | May 31, 1886 | Mityana | Castrated |
| 18 | Muwanga | Buganda | Nvuma | Anglican | May 31, 1886 | Mityana | Castrated |
| 19 | Lwanga, Karoli | Buganda | Ngabi | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 20 | Baanabakintu, Lukka | Buganda | Mmamba | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 21 | Buuzabalyawo, Yakobo | Buganda | Ngeye | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 22 | Gyaviira | Buganda | Mmamba | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 23 | Kibuuka, Ambrosio | Buganda | Lugave | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 24 | Kiriggwajjo, Anatoli | Bunyoro | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned | |
| 25 | Kiriwawanvu, Mukasa | Buganda | Ndiga | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 26 | Kiwanuka, Achileo | Buganda | Lugave | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 27 | Kizito | Buganda | Mmamba | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 28 | Ludigo, Mukasa Adolofu | Toro | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned | |
| 29 | Mugagga | Buganda | Ngo | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 30 | Sserunkuuma, Bruno | Buganda | Ndiga | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 31 | Tuzinde, Mbaga | Buganda | Mmamba | Catholic | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 32 | Kadoko, Alexanda | Buganda | Ndiga | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 33 | Kifamunnyanja | Buganda | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned | |
| 34 | Kiwanuka, Giyaza | Buganda | Mpeewo | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 35 | Kizza, Frederick | Buganda | Ngabi | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 36 | Kwabafu | Buganda | Mmamba | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 37 | Lwakisiga, Mukasa | Buganda | Ngabi | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 38 | Lwanga | Buganda | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned | |
| 39 | Mubi-azaalwa | Buganda | Mbwa | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 40 | Munyagabyangu, Robert | Buganda | Mmamba | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 41 | Muwanga, Njigija | Buganda | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned | |
| 42 | Nakabandwa, Danieri | Buganda | Mmamba | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 43 | Walukagga, Nuwa | Buganda | Kasimba | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 44 | Wasswa | Buganda | Mmamba | Anglican | June 3, 1886 | Namugongo | Burned |
| 45 | Muzeeyi, Jean-Marie | Buganda | Mbogo | Catholic | Jan 27, 1887 | Mengo | Beheaded |
