Saint Denis Sebugwawo | |
|---|---|
 Place of Martydom | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | Wasswa Ssebuggwawo 1870 Kigoloba, Bulemeezi, Uganda |
| Died | May 25, 1886 (aged 15–16) Munyonyo, Uganda |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 6 June 1920 by Pope Benedict XV |
| Canonized | 18 October 1964[1] by Pope Paul VI |
| Major shrine | Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine |
| Feast | 3 June |
| Patronage | Musicians |
Denis Ssebuggwawo (1870-25 May 1886) is a Ugandan Catholic martyr and saint. He was born at Kigoloba in Bulemeezi County. His father was Kajansi and mother was Nsonga of Musoga.[2] Shortly after his birth, his grandfather was put to death and his father moved his family to their family estate at Bunono in Busiro County.[2] Ssebuggwawo belonged to the Musu Clan.
Ssebuggwawo and his twin brother Kato became catechumens and were instructed by Saint Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe.[2] He was baptized on 16 November 1885 by Père Simon Lourdel, M.Afr., also known as Fr. Mapera, and he took the name Denis as his Christian name.
He was a page of Kabaka Muteesa I of Buganda and a page in personal attendance of Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda.[3] He was tortured and speared by King Mwanga II, for teaching his faith to Mwafu, the chancellor's son, before handing him over to executioner Mpinga Kaloke on the evening of 25 May 1886.[2][3] On the morning of 26 May 1886, Mpinga ordered his two men, Matembe and Mulyowa, to hack the body of the boy into pieces.[3] Ssebuggwawo was first beheaded before he was hacked into pieces at Munyonyo.[3] He is remembered as the first of the Martyrs of Uganda.
- ^ "The Christian Martyrs of Uganda". Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "St. Denis Ssebuggwaawo". Munyonyo Martyrs' Shrine. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Muthua, Joseph Kamau (2015). "A Christian Response to Violence: Lessons to Learn from Students in Africa/ Kenya Urbana 2015" (PDF). Urbana. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.