THE FRIDAYS BEATJUST GOT A WHOLE LOT BETTER 02.06.17

What is in a name, you might ask. Everything, some might say. One of the least told stories about Martyrs is that of their names. Rich, poetic; even mythical names whose meaning some people wonder about, but which most never care to understand. JULIET LUKWAGO sat down with Fr Joseph Mukasa Sculptures depicting of the burning of the in the museum at the shrines Muwonge, a researcher and the spokesman for Kampala Archdiocese, to unravel the stories behind the names of Catholic Martyrs MBAAGA-TUZINDE DEMYSTIFYING Tuzinde was in charge of the stores in the Kabaka’s court. Sometimes, the stores stocked up meat. So, whenever people came to ask for some meat, Tuzinde, in trying to explain that MARTYRS’ NAMES he was only a storekeeper and not a butcher, would ask those who came to request for the meat; mwali NOA MAWAGGALI ADOLF MUKASA LUDIGO mundabyeko nga mbaaga (Luganda He was one of the three Catholic His real name is Tebeyalirwa, but when he for “have you ever seen me slaughtering an animal?”). martyrs of Mityana. The other two arrived at the Lubiri palace, his colleagues That is how he got the name “Mbaaga”. were Matthias Kalemba and Luke said he resembled Ludigo, the then crown St. Mbaaga Tuzinde was a Muganda, who hailed from Baanabakintu. prince of Busoga so they nicknamed him Busiro County. He belonged to the Mamba OXQJoVK  Mawaggali was the son of Musaazi “Ludigo”. He was born in the kingdom of clan. His father was Katamiza Waggumbulizi and mother and a member of the Ngabi (bush- Toro. He became a companion of Kalooli- Mumanyi of Kkobe (yam) fruit clan. Buck) clan. His mother’s name was Lwanga at the court of King Mwanga II. Mbaaga was a page of the audience hall of King Mwanga Meeme. He was born at Nkazibukulu His parentage and clan are unknown, II. He is described as kind-hearted, obedient, truthful and in Ssingo county, in 1850. He was since he was captured during the inter-kingdom wars and good at sports. an expert potter and was appointed brought to the kingdom of Buganda, where he served as a Although he was the adopted son of Mukaajanga, potter to the county chief, who greatly herdsman and page in the audience hall of King Muteesa I Buganda kingdom’s royal chief executioner, he professed admired his work. After living for and his son Mwanga II, at the time when Christianity was the Christian faith and was baptised on May 26, 1886, awhile in the chief’s household, introduced into Uganda between 1877 and 1879. by Charles Lwanga. He is remembered for standing Mawaggali became a tenant of After Muteesa I’s death on October 19, 1884, Mwanga came oUPGHVSLWHSUHVVXUHIURPUHODWLYHVDQG0XNDDMDQJDWR Matthias Kalemba and built a house on his land. to power. Many pages, including Ludigo, disobeyed the king renounce Christianity. He was 17 years old at the time of Kalemba was his friend, as well as his landlord, and it was this and went into hiding at a time of persecution. On November his martyrdom. friendship, as well as the zeal and Christian example of Mulumba, 16, 1885, the day after Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe was Mbaaga is the patron of religious vocations, including which drew Mawaggali to him and which induced him to join the martyred, Mukasa-Ludigo was baptised by Pere Simeon seminaries, novices and aspirants. St Mbaaga National Catholic catechumenate. Lourdel (aka Mapeera, the catholic who taught Seminary, Ggaba in Uganda, is dedicated to him. He was eventually baptised on November 1, 1885. the martyrs). TURN TO PAGE 24 ART I FASHION I EVENTS I TRAVEL I CULTURE I FILM I LIFE I BARS I MUSIC I REVIEWS