Heroic Witness of Ugandan Martyrs Hailed for Church’s Growth in Africa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Kampala, 16 June, 2026 / 11:50 pm (ACI Africa).

The Representative of the Holy Father in Canada has attributed the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa to the heroic witness of the Ugandan Martyrs, noting that the sacrifice of the martyrs continues to inspire generations of Christians on the continent and beyond.

In his homily during Holy Mass for the 2026 Ugandan Martyrs’ Celebrations in Ottawa on June 14, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič reflected on the significance of the young Christians who were killed for their faith in the late nineteenth century.

“These martyrs are the first saints to be canonized in modern Africa and have thus been an encouragement and reason for the growth of the Church on the continent,” he said during the event that was held at St. Elizabeth Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.

The event was jointly organized by the Uganda Association of Ottawa and the Catholic Community of Ottawa. 

Referring to Sts. Charles Lwanga, Mattia Mulumba, Kizito, and companions, the Vatican Diplomat added, “Their story is not merely a chapter in African history; it is a living testimony of the power of the Gospel and a challenge to every Christian in every generation.”

He recalled that the Missionaries of Africa (MAfr/White Fathers), arrived on the shores of Lake Victoria in 1879, and within six years Christianity had spread rapidly throughout the kingdom.

“Having been fully equipped with their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, the martyrs were given their first test, which they passed with flying colors,” the Nuncio said, referring to the 22 Catholic martyrs who were killed between 1885 and 1887, during the reign of Kabaka (King) Mwanga II of Buganda Kingdom, for refusing to renounce their faith.

He added, “When they were ordered to abandon their faith and submit to immoral demands, they chose fidelity to Christ even at the cost of torture and death.”

“Their persecutors thought they were extinguishing Christianity; instead, the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church in Africa,” Archbishop Jurkovič said, hailing the heroic witness of the martyrs, whom he noted “were not Priests, Bishops, or scholars, but ordinary believers who discovered in Christ a treasure worth more than life itself.” 

The Apostolic Nuncio in Canada since June 2021, also remembered Blessed Daudi Okelo and Blessed Jildo Irwa, the young Catechists martyred in northern Uganda in 1918, saying, “Their witness of faith, courage, and fidelity continues to inspire Christians in Uganda and across Africa.”

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In his June 14 homily, the 74-year-old Slovenian Vatican diplomat also reflected on the legacy of the Uganda Martyrs, recalling in particular the 1969 Papal visit of St. Paul VI to Uganda.

“During his pilgrimage to Namugongo, he highlighted the maturity and missionary vitality of the Church in Africa, encouraging African Catholics to take an active role in evangelization both on the continent and beyond,” Archbishop Jurkovič recalled.

He pointed to the growing contribution of the Clergy and members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) from Africa serving in Canada as evidence of the continent’s missionary vitality.

He said, “As you see also here in Ottawa, I am so happy to have the occasion to thank the Priests coming from different African countries to assist this Church with its new structures, new population, and new communities. Migration, a phenomenon of modern times, asks us to help and accompany this reality.” 

“Thanks be to God, we are mature, we are able, and this way of collaborating will continue also in the future,” the Apostolic Nuncio added, further describing the presence of African missionaries in Canada and other parts of the world as a sign of a “mature Church” reflecting the fruits of evangelization in Africa.

The Vatican Diplomat expressed gratitude to Canadian Authorities for understanding the needs of the Catholic community and making it possible for missionaries from Africa to serve the people of God in the country amid changing migration policies.

“As you know, migration policy is changing continuously and is often under pressure, but we have found, and we are certainly thankful as a Church, that we can be assisted by the sons and daughters from your countries who take care not only of you but of the whole Catholic community as true missionaries and brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.

The Archbishop of Krbava Titular See highlighted the importance of the Christian community, warning against growing individualism in modern society, saying, “It is impossible to be a Christian alone. The community of Christians and believers is the true subject of religious life.”

He added, “The best vocations, the greatest talents, and the biggest saints come out of the community. This is where we take our strength and where we learn our personal identity: family, parish, and the Church, never to forget this power of community.”

“May the example of the Holy Uganda Martyrs inspire us to remain steadfast in our faith, courageous in our witness, and faithful in our love for Christ. May their prayers strengthen us to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, so that one day we may share with them the eternal joy of God's Kingdom,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Canada said in his June 14 homily.

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Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.