By Aggrey Baba
Hajji Faruk Kirunda, Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilisation, has called on Ugandans to reflect deeply on the life and sacrifice of Uganda Martyr St. Gonzaga Gonza, drawing parallels between the martyr’s courage and the spirit that guided the National Resistance Army (NRA) during Uganda’s liberation struggle.
Speaking ahead of the national celebration of St. Gonzaga Gonza Day, which will be marked this Sunday, July 6, at Bugonza Shrine in Kaliro District, Kirunda said the story of Gonzaga is not just religious history but a clear example of conviction and self-sacrifice, the same values that drove Uganda’s liberators to risk everything for the good of the country.
Gonzaga Gonza, who hailed from Bugonza in Bulamogi County, was among the youngest Uganda Martyrs executed for their Christian faith under the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II in 1886.
Born around 1862, he was taken to Muteesa’s palace at about 12 years of age, where he first converted to Islam, then Protestantism, and eventually to Catholicism. His commitment to his faith later placed him on a collision course with the Buganda monarchy at a time when converts were being persecuted.
Kirunda said that Gonza’s martyrdom (like the actions of the NRA fighters) should be remembered as an act of deliberate sacrifice for principle,.explaining that both the martyrs and the liberators had clear choices but chose the harder path because of what they believed in.
“The Uganda Martyrs, like the NRA fighters, were not forced into sacrifice. They had the option to choose comfort or abandon their beliefs. But they stood firm, knowing that they could lose everything,” Kirunda said, adding that that kind of courage is rare, and today’s leaders (especially in religious spaces), urged them to measure themselves against such examples.
Gonza’s final moments have been documented as especially painful and heroic. After his arrest, he and other Christian pages were tightly bound overnight at Munyonyo. By morning, the ropes had cut deep into his flesh, and his body was swollen and bleeding. But despite the pain, he attempted to walk alongside the others towards Namugongo, where executions were taking place.
However, by the time the group reached a junction near Kyamula, Gonza’s strength had failed him. He collapsed and was speared to death on the roadside.
His body was left lying there for several days, and animals are believed to have preyed on it. Even one of his executioners reportedly admitted: “That boy was very brave. He did not show fear.”
Kirunda used this narrative to challenge modern religious and civic leaders who, in his view, have lost the meaning of service and sacrifice, criticising a growing trend where religious offices are used for personal benefit instead of spiritual guidance and unity.
“We now have leaders in clerical robes who are more interested in building personal empires than serving their congregations. Their messages divide rather than uplift. This is the exact opposite of what Gonzaga Gonza died for. Such behaviour dishonours both the Uganda Martyrs and the spirit of the liberation struggle,” Kirunda said.
The shrine where the national celebration will be held this Sunday is located on land originally owned by Gonzaga’s family. According to Fr. Ronald Isiko, the current Parish Priest of St. Gonzaga Gonza Shrine, the land was donated to the Catholic Church in 1890 by Gonza’s paternal relatives, themselves among the early converts.
The Church first operated under a tree, before growing steadily into a permanent structure. In 2023, it was elevated to parish status by Jinja Diocese Bishop Charles Martin Wamika.
Fr. Isiko explained that the shrine not only attracts thousands of pilgrims each year but also holds deep significance as a place where faith, culture and history meet, and it has since become a centre of spiritual growth for the community and a symbol of Busoga’s contribution to Uganda’s Christian story.
Kirunda said Bugonza’s transformation into a national pilgrimage site shows that true sacrifice never dies, adding that the courage of figures like Gonza continues to shape Uganda’s moral foundation and should not be forgotten, especially by those entrusted with leadership roles in the community.
“The stories of the martyrs are more than just religious tales. They are warnings, lessons and calls to action. If we forget them or twist their meaning for selfish gain, then we are slowly undoing what they died for. St. Gonzaga Gonza represents the kind of Uganda we must all work for, one built on truth, service and sacrifice,” said Kirunda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
