Saint Andrew Kaggwa

Life story

Andrew Kaggwa was born around the mid-1850s. According to one source he was a Nyoro, captured as a child by Ganda raiders and presented to the king. He served as a royal page, then as master drummer and bandmaster of the court musicians, and King Mwanga gave him the title Mugowa, with authority over the bandsmen of the king's militia.

He joined the Catholic catechumenate in 1880 and was baptised on 30 April 1882 by Father Simon Lourdel of the White Fathers. He taught the faith to the royal pages as a catechist, so when King Mwanga II began persecuting Christians on 25 May 1886 he was soon targeted.

According to the traditional account, on 26 May, after receiving communion at the mission, he was returning to his post at Munyonyo when messengers came for the Christians in the house. He declared himself a Christian, was brought before the Chancellor, and was condemned; the executioners cut off his arm, beheaded him and cut his body into pieces near Munyonyo. Christians buried his remains where he died, near the present Ggaba seminary.

Pope Benedict XV beatified him in 1920 and Pope Paul VI canonized him on 18 October 1964.

Works and witness

• Rose from page to master drummer and court bandmaster
• Given the title Mugowa by King Mwanga over the bandsmen
• Baptised on 30 April 1882
• Served as catechist to the royal pages
• Executed near Munyonyo in 1886; canonized in 1964

Saints from the same country

The 22 Martyrs of Uganda, Saint Kizito

References

• Dictionary of African Christian Biography: 'Kaggwa, Andrew' (dacb.org/stories/uganda/kaggwa-andrew)
• America Magazine (2011): 'The Story of the Ugandan Martyrs' (context of the 1886 persecution)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.