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{{Short description|Ugandan Roman Catholic martyr}}
{{Infobox saint
{{Infobox saint
|name=Saint Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe
|name=Saint Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe
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|death_date=15 November 1885
|death_date=15 November 1885
|feast_day=3 June
|feast_day=3 June
|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]
|venerated_in=[[Catholic Church]]
|image=Karoli Lwanga and his followers.jpg
|image=Karoli Lwanga and his followers.jpg
|imagesize=
|imagesize=
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|suppressed_date=
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
|issues=
}}'''Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe''' (1860 – 15 November 1885) was a [[Uganda]]n [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and the majordomo at the court of [[Mwanga II of Buganda]], recognized as a [[martyr]] and [[saint]] by the Catholic Church.
}}'''Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe''' (1860 – 15 November 1885) was a [[Uganda]]n [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[martyr]] and the [[majordomo]] at the court of [[Mwanga II of Buganda]], recognized as a [[saint]] by the Catholic Church.


The [[White Fathers|Missionaries of Africa]] came to Uganda in 1879. Balikuddembe was enrolled as a catechumen in the following year and along with [[Andrew Kaggwa]], was baptized by Père Simon Lourdel [[White Fathers|M.Afr.]] (Fr. Mapeera) on 30 April 1882.<ref name=shrine>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugandamartyrsshrine.org.ug/martyrs.php?id=45|title=Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo, Kampala Archdiocese, Uganda|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mapeera, the man behind Uganda’s first-ever mass, baptism |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/NV_102140 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-05 |title=Uganda Martyrs: tracing the history |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/uganda-martyrs-tracing-the-history-1571544 |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref> Balikuddembe took the baptismal name of "Joseph".<ref name="dacb.org">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dacb.org/stories/uganda/mukasa_joseph.html |title=Shorter, Aylward. "Mukasa Balikuddembe, Joseph", ''Dictionary of African Christian Biography'', 2003 |access-date=2008-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323044238/http://www.dacb.org/stories/uganda/mukasa_joseph.html |archive-date=2010-03-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Life==
A member of the Muganda tribe, in about 1874, when he was fourteen, Balikuddembe was presented to King Mutesa I to be one of his many royal pages. Balikuddembe was a personal attendant on King Mutesa I and Majordomo under King Mwanga II. The [[White Fathers|Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa]] came to Uganda in 1879. Balikuddembe was enrolled as a catechumen in the following year and along with [[Andrew Kaggwa]], was baptized by Pere Lourdel on 30 April 1882.<ref name=shrine>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugandamartyrsshrine.org.ug/martyrs.php?id=45|title=Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo, Kampala Archdiocese, Uganda|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref> Balikuddembe took the baptismal name of "Joseph".<ref name="dacb.org">[http://www.dacb.org/stories/uganda/mukasa_joseph.html Shorter, Aylward. "Mukasa Balikuddembe, Joseph", ''Dictionary of African Christian Biography'', 2003]</ref>


From November 1882 to July 1885 the Catholic missionaries, for reasons of security, abandoned the Ugandan mission and re-located temporarily to the southern end of Lake Victoria. In the absence of the missionaries, Balikuddembe became leader of he Christians.<ref name="dacb.org"/>
From November 1882 to July 1885 the Catholic missionaries, for reasons of security, abandoned the Ugandan mission and re-located temporarily to the southern end of Lake Victoria. In the absence of the missionaries, Balikuddembe was elected as the leader of the Christians.<ref name="dacb.org"/><ref name=":0" />


King Mutesa was succeeded by his eighteen-year-old son, Danieri Mwanga II. Early in his reign, the new king began to crack down on [[Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] and converts in his country, and executed the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] bishop [[James Hannington]] and his companions on October 29, 1885, ignoring Balikuddembe's pleas to spare the bishop. Godfrey Muwonge attributes this to the influence of Mwanga's Katikkiro (Prime Minister) Mukasa, who sought to control the spread of Christianity in Buganda by eliminating its teachers.<ref name=Muwonge>[https://www.bugandawatch.com/2015/05/21/my-two-cents-worth-katikkiro-mukasa-was-behind-many-mwanga-executions/ "Katikkiro Mukasa Was Behind Many “Mwanga II Executions”, ''Buganda Watch'', 21 May 2015]</ref>
King Mutesa was succeeded by his eighteen-year-old son, Danieri Mwanga II. Early in his reign, the new king began to crack down on [[Christianity|Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] and converts in his country, and executed the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] bishop [[James Hannington]] and his companions on October 29, 1885, ignoring Balikuddembe's pleas to spare the bishop. Godfrey Muwonge attributes this to the influence of Mwanga's Katikkiro (Prime Minister) Mukasa, who sought to control the spread of Christianity in Buganda by eliminating its teachers.<ref name=Muwonge>[https://www.bugandawatch.com/2015/05/21/my-two-cents-worth-katikkiro-mukasa-was-behind-many-mwanga-executions/ "Katikkiro Mukasa Was Behind Many “Mwanga II Executions”, ''Buganda Watch'', 21 May 2015]</ref>


Another reason that Mwanga killed Balikuddembe was because he spoke out against Mwanga's homosexual practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=1570&C=1471|title=Martyrs in the History of Christianity|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref> As catechumens, the recent converts could no longer engage in activities which they saw as unchristian. Mwanga saw this as insubordination.<ref name=Nsambu>[http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/669076-who-are-uganda-martyrs.html Nsambu, Jean-Marie. "Who are Uganda Martyrs?", ''New Vision'', 2007]</ref>
As catechumens, the recent converts could no longer engage in activities which they saw as unchristian. Mwanga saw this as insubordination.<ref name=Nsambu>[http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/669076-who-are-uganda-martyrs.html Nsambu, Jean-Marie. "Who are Uganda Martyrs?", ''New Vision'', 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208133406/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/669076-who-are-uganda-martyrs.html |date=2015-12-08 }}</ref>


As Mwanga's senior adviser, Balikuddembe spoke against the killing of the bishop. Mwanga viewed this a disrespectful. After a night-long interview the king condemned Balikuddembe to death. Muwonge says that the Katikkiro Musaka saw to it that the order was carried out before the king could change his mind.<ref name=Muwonge/> On 15 November 1885 Balikuddembe was taken to a place near the Nakivubo river where he was beheaded and his body thrown onto a pile of burning firewood.<ref name="dacb.org"/> His duties were assumed by the young catechist [[Charles Lwanga]].
As Mwanga's senior adviser, Balikuddembe spoke against the killing of the bishop. Mwanga viewed this a disrespectful. After a night-long interview the king condemned Balikuddembe to death. Muwonge says that the Katikkiro Musaka saw to it that the order was carried out before the king could change his mind.<ref name=Muwonge/> On 15 November 1885 Balikuddembe was taken to a place near the Nakivubo river where he was beheaded and his body thrown onto a pile of burning firewood.<ref name="dacb.org"/> His duties were assumed by the young catechist [[Charles Lwanga]].
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St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe Parish is located in Kisoga.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eastafricanservites.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/silver-jubilee-of-balikuddembe-catholic-parish/|title=SILVER JUBILEE OF BALIKUDDEMBE CATHOLIC PARISH|first=|last=easervites|date=12 November 2014|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref>
St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe Parish is located in Kisoga.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eastafricanservites.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/silver-jubilee-of-balikuddembe-catholic-parish/|title=SILVER JUBILEE OF BALIKUDDEMBE CATHOLIC PARISH|first=|last=easervites|date=12 November 2014|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref>

== His family ==
Balikuddembe's father was Matia Mulumba from Jinja and his mother was a Mutoro.<ref name=":1" />


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintjbh.htm Joseph Mukasa bio]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061218043738/http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintjbh.htm Joseph Mukasa bio]
*[http://wau.org/archives/article/the_uganda_martyrs/ The Uganda Martyrs from the August 2008 issue of ''The Word Among Us'' magazine]
*[http://wau.org/archives/article/the_uganda_martyrs/ The Uganda Martyrs from the August 2008 issue of ''The Word Among Us'' magazine]
*[http://www.ugandamartyrsshrine.org.ug/index.php?ID=105 Joseph Mukasa's profile from UgandaMartyrsShrine.org]
*[http://www.ugandamartyrsshrine.org.ug/index.php?ID=105 Joseph Mukasa's profile from UgandaMartyrsShrine.org]
⚫
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100323044238/http://www.dacb.org/stories/uganda/mukasa_joseph.html Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe's profile from Dictionary of African Christian Biography]
*{{Find a Grave|29119955}}
⚫
*[http://www.dacb.org/stories/uganda/mukasa_joseph.html Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe's profile from Dictionary of African Christian Biography]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:19th-century executions by Uganda]]
[[Category:19th-century executions by Uganda]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:Christian missionaries in Uganda]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic missionaries in Uganda]]
[[Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism from pagan religions]]
[[Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism from pagan religions]]
[[Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism]]
[[Category:Executed Ugandan people]]
[[Category:Executed Ugandan people]]
[[Category:People executed by Buganda]]
[[Category:People executed by Buganda]]
[[Category:Christian martyrs executed by decapitation]]
[[Category:Christian martyrs executed by decapitation]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic missionaries]]
[[Category:Ugandan Roman Catholic missionaries]]
[[Category:Ugandan Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:Ugandan Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:People executed by Uganda by decapitation]]
[[Category:People executed by Uganda by decapitation]]

Revision as of 20:10, 15 March 2024

Saint Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe
Joseph Mukasa and his companions
Martyr
Born1860
Buganda, Uganda
Died15 November 1885
Nakivubo, Uganda
Venerated inCatholic Church
Beatified1920 by Pope Benedict XV
Canonized18 October 1964 by Pope Paul VI
Major shrineBasilica Church of the Uganda Martyrs, Namugongo
Feast3 June
PatronageChiefs, politicians

Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe (1860 – 15 November 1885) was a Ugandan Catholic martyr and the majordomo at the court of Mwanga II of Buganda, recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church.

The Missionaries of Africa came to Uganda in 1879. Balikuddembe was enrolled as a catechumen in the following year and along with Andrew Kaggwa, was baptized by Père Simon Lourdel M.Afr. (Fr. Mapeera) on 30 April 1882.[1][2][3] Balikuddembe took the baptismal name of "Joseph".[4]

From November 1882 to July 1885 the Catholic missionaries, for reasons of security, abandoned the Ugandan mission and re-located temporarily to the southern end of Lake Victoria. In the absence of the missionaries, Balikuddembe was elected as the leader of the Christians.[4][2]

King Mutesa was succeeded by his eighteen-year-old son, Danieri Mwanga II. Early in his reign, the new king began to crack down on Christian missionaries and converts in his country, and executed the British Anglican bishop James Hannington and his companions on October 29, 1885, ignoring Balikuddembe's pleas to spare the bishop. Godfrey Muwonge attributes this to the influence of Mwanga's Katikkiro (Prime Minister) Mukasa, who sought to control the spread of Christianity in Buganda by eliminating its teachers.[5]

As catechumens, the recent converts could no longer engage in activities which they saw as unchristian. Mwanga saw this as insubordination.[6]

As Mwanga's senior adviser, Balikuddembe spoke against the killing of the bishop. Mwanga viewed this a disrespectful. After a night-long interview the king condemned Balikuddembe to death. Muwonge says that the Katikkiro Musaka saw to it that the order was carried out before the king could change his mind.[5] On 15 November 1885 Balikuddembe was taken to a place near the Nakivubo river where he was beheaded and his body thrown onto a pile of burning firewood.[4] His duties were assumed by the young catechist Charles Lwanga.

Veneration

Balikuddembe is remembered as first of the Martyrs of Uganda and is the patron of politicians and chiefs.[1]

St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe Parish is located in Kisoga.[7]

His family

Balikuddembe's father was Matia Mulumba from Jinja and his mother was a Mutoro.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo, Kampala Archdiocese, Uganda". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Mapeera, the man behind Uganda's first-ever mass, baptism". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  3. ^ a b "Uganda Martyrs: tracing the history". Monitor. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  4. ^ a b c "Shorter, Aylward. "Mukasa Balikuddembe, Joseph", Dictionary of African Christian Biography, 2003". Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  5. ^ a b "Katikkiro Mukasa Was Behind Many “Mwanga II Executions”, Buganda Watch, 21 May 2015
  6. ^ Nsambu, Jean-Marie. "Who are Uganda Martyrs?", New Vision, 2007 Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ easervites (12 November 2014). "SILVER JUBILEE OF BALIKUDDEMBE CATHOLIC PARISH". Retrieved 14 November 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Mukasa_Balikuddembe&oldid=1213900022"