Fr Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, who is charge of the Uganda Martyrs in the Kampala Archdiocese, today brings Munno Voice readers the history of Saint Mugagga Lubowa, Martyr and Patron of club’s community development and culture.
Who Is Mugagga?
St Mugaga Lubowa was a Muganda of a Engo (Leopard) clan and was a peg in the Kabaka’s Palace. He was born Jjalamba, Mawokota County by Munannadduli Nasubwa of a Mbogo (Buffalo) clan to Mazinga who was a polygamous father. It is Lubowa mother who gave him the name of Mugagga in anticipation that he would be rich man as the Kiganda name implies.
He was Killed together with the other martyrs who were burnt on the Ascension Day at Namugongo on June 3, 1886 when he was only 16 years old. others that were martyred on that Ascension of that year include Gyavira, Kizito James Buzzaabalyawo, Lukka Baanabakintu Ambrose Kibuuka BaanabaKintu, Ambrose Kibuuka, Anatoli Kiriggwajjo and Achilles Kiwanuka.
The other was Mbaaga Tuzinde Mukasa Kiriwawanvu, Adulf Ludigo, Bruno Sserukuuma, Charles Lwanga, who had succeeded Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe as head of the pegs was murdered at exactly where the min Basilica stands today
Shortly before Kabaka Mwanga ordered the killing of the Christians including the pegs for defying his orders requiring them to abandon the foreign religions, Charles Lwanga baptized Mugagga at Munyonyo on the morning of May 26th 1886 along with Gyavira, Mbaaga Tuzinde. Karoli Weerabewo who was near the Pyre at Namugobo as spared under unknown circumstance, but surely by God’s providence.
Mugagga who grew up with his parents at Jjalamba was later entrusted to Sseddu Kakinda who was both the head of the Leopard clan and an outstanding bark-cloth maker, Mugaga and his father Mazinga also used to work at Kakida’s bark-cloth place (ekk0mago).
Mugaga acquired a lot of skills concerning bark-cloth production and acquired a lot of knowledge in the clan affairs. He as well turned into a competent black- smith becoming strong and powerful.
Some years later, Mugagga left his father’s home and settled at Seddu Kakinda’s residence for further and better training. This is why some people thought that Kakinda of a Liana fruit (Ekkobe) clan was the father of Mugagga.
Mugagga and his step brother Luleeba used to be sent by Kakinda to take the bark clothes to the palace for the Kabaka as they continued to practice the Catholic Faith.
Mugagga and Luleeba were then presented by Sseddu to Kabaka Mwanga to serve in the palace as pegs. Mugagga was assigned to work in the audience hall under Charles Lwanga. He was later assigned to a private apartment of the inner circle (ekisaakaate) Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, Mugagga’s faith continued to solidify to the point of defying the Kabaka’s order requiring him to forsake Christianity.
According to Matayo Kivevu, an opinion leader and a friend of the time Mugagga fought tooth and nail for the virtue of charity and against blandishment that were rampant in the palace. To succeed he was very much guided and protected by Balikudembe and Lwanga.
Both Ddiba and Nsobya, respected researches described Mugagga as a man who was kind, intelligent, co-operative, trust worthy faithful and charitable. Due to the fact that much of his time was spent on duty Mugagga had a very limited time to attend at night Charles Lwanga. Mugagga spared time to associated with his equals for games and handcrafts.
This Is Not Contradictory But Complementary
On the eve of the Martyrs doom on May 26, 1886 King Mugagga Gyaviira and Denis Kanyuka (Confessor of faith) fled and spent the night at home of Andra Kagwa, having been terrified by the way the Kabaka had conducted himself towards the Christians.
Ready to be burnt and already enclosed in a bundle of reeds, Mugagga asked for a drink and Mukaajanga, the head of the Kabaka soldiers ordered that Mugagga be released a bit and have a drink.
It was customary to give a container of the local brew to people destined for death. This explains why Mugagga request was positively responded to Twice he was allowed to have a slip of it after which he bade farewell to Denis Kamyuka saying he was about to meet the creator in the heaven.
The killing of Mugagga therefore frustrated the great wishes of his mother who had named him mugagga in antipation that he would be very wealthy man
Mazinga, father of Mugagga was baptized Isaiah in the protestant church, while Nassubwa, the mother was baptized Mary by Fr. Joseph Kaliba when she was about to die, she was baptized in 1920 when she was about to die.