Achilleus Kewanuka
Encyclopedia
Saint Achilleus Kewanuka, also known as Achileo Kiwanuka or Achilles Kiwanuka (1869 - June 3, 1886), was a Uganda
n Roman Catholic
revered as a saint
in his church. He served as a clerk in the court of King Mwanga II
of Buganda
, and converted to the Christian faith under the missionary group
known as the White Fathers
. Kewanuka was burned alive for his faith on June 3, 1886; he and his companions became known as the Martyrs of Uganda
. They were canonized as saints in 1964 by Pope Paul VI
. Kewanuka's feast day is celebrated on June 3.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
revered as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in his church. He served as a clerk in the court of King Mwanga II
Mwanga II of Buganda
Danieri Basammula-Ekkere Mwanga II Mukasa was Kabaka from 1884 until 1888 and from 1889 until 1897. He was the thirty-first Kabaka of Buganda.-Claim to the throne:...
of Buganda
Buganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
, and converted to the Christian faith under the missionary group
Missionary order
A missionary order is a religious order of the Roman Catholic church devoted to active missionary work....
known as the White Fathers
White Fathers
The missionary society known as "White Fathers" , after their dress, is a Roman Catholic Society of Apostolic Life founded in 1868 by the first Archbishop of Algiers, later Cardinal Lavigerie, as the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa of Algeria, and is also now known as the Society of the...
. Kewanuka was burned alive for his faith on June 3, 1886; he and his companions became known as the Martyrs of Uganda
Martyrs of Uganda
The Uganda Martyrs were Christian converts who were murdered for their faith in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda.-Charles Lwanga and his companions:...
. They were canonized as saints in 1964 by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. Kewanuka's feast day is celebrated on June 3.