St. Charles Lwanga and companions were Ugandan lay martyrs. Between 1885 and 1887, when the new evangelization of black Africa began, a hundred Ugandan Christians, Catholics and Anglicans, were condemned to death by King Mwanga. This one had proposed to finish with all the Christians, among other reasons because they were opposed to the slavery and the sale of slaves.
On June 3, the group formed by Carlos Lwanga and his twelve companions, all of them between the ages of fourteen and thirty, was celebrated. They were young and fervent Catholics, and did not yield to the wishes of the monarch. Some had their throats slit and others were burned alive. Their names are Carlos Lwanga, Mbaya Tuzinde, Bruno Seronuma, Santiago Buzabaliao, Kizito, Ambrosio Kibuka, Mgagga, Gyavira, Aquiles Kiwanuka, Adolfo Ludigo Mkasa, Mukasa Kiriwanvu, Anatolio Kiriggwajjo and Lucas Banabakintu.
With the White Fathers
The last words spoken by St. Charles Lwanga were: "I will take you by the hand. If we must die for Jesus, we will die together, holding hands together". Charles had been attracted to the missionaries from Africa, better known as the White Parentsfounded by the Cardinal Lavigerie. After becomingwas a reference for others, and encouraged the faith of converts.
In 1920, Benedict XV proclaimed Charles Lwanga and his companions martyrs blessed. St. Paul VI canonized them in 1964, during the Second Vatican Council, and in Uganda (1969), he consecrated the main altar of the Shrine of Namugongo. In 2015, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the same shrine, after visiting the nearby Anglican church, also dedicated to the country's martyrs.
