Denis Ssebuggwawo Wasswa
Saint Denis Sebugwawo | |
---|---|
Place of Martydom | |
Martyr | |
Born |
1870 Bulemeezi, Uganda |
Died |
25 May 1886 Munyonyo, Uganda |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
Beatified | 1920 by Pope Benedict XV |
Canonized | 18 October 1964 by Pope Paul VI |
Major shrine | Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine |
Feast | 3 June |
Patronage | Musicians |
St. Denis Ssebuggwawo (Musajja-mukulu) was by tribe a Muganda from Bulemeezi county. His father was Kajansi and mother, Nsonga (Musoga). Ssebuggwawo was from Edible or Cane Rat (Musu) clan - Thryonomys Swinderianus. He was a page of king Muteesa I and a page in personal attendance of Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda. Ssebuggwawo was baptized on 16 November 1885 by Pere Lourdel (Fr. Mapera). He was tortured and speared by king Mwanga II before handing him over to executioner Mpinga Kaloke on the evening of Tuesday 25 May 1886. On Wednesday morning 26 May 1886, Mpinga ordered his two men; Matembe and Mulyowa to hack the boy of 16 years into pieces. Ssebuggwawo was first beheaded before he was hacked into pieces at Munyonyo. He is remembered as one of the Martyrs of Uganda's feast day.