Saint Kizito
Page of King Mwanga and the youngest of the Uganda martyrs
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Young saint
- Life
- 1872 – 1886
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 3 June
- Countries
- Uganda
Life story
Kizito was born in Buganda, now Uganda, around 1872; sources say only that he was fourteen or fifteen when he died. He was a page in the private quarters of King Mwanga II and ran errands for the king. Some of the young men at court had been learning about the Christian faith.
Kizito was baptised in haste on the night of 25 May 1886 at Munyonyo by Charles Lwanga, the leader of the young Christian community, together with a few other catechumens. At the same time King Mwanga II began a persecution of Christians at his court. On 26 May Kizito was sentenced to death.
On 3 June 1886 he was burned alive at Namugongo, with the group of young men and boys executed there. The traditional account says he bade his friends farewell, telling them they were on their way.
Pope Benedict XV beatified him in 1920 with the other Catholic martyrs of Uganda, and Pope Paul VI canonized the group on 18 October 1964 in Rome. Their shared feast is 3 June.
Works and witness
- Served as a page at King Mwanga II's court
- Baptised by Charles Lwanga on the night of 25 May 1886 at Munyonyo
- Burned alive at Namugongo on 3 June 1886
- Beatified in 1920
- Canonized by Paul VI on 18 October 1964
Saints from the same country
References
- Dictionary of African Christian Biography: 'Kizito' (dacb.org/stories/uganda/kizito)
- America Magazine (2011): 'The Story of the Ugandan Martyrs'
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.