At the age of 38, Bishop James Hannington crossed Lake Victoria from Kenya with 50 helpers and found himself in Bunya Chiefdom run by Chief Lube. On his sight, the natives informed the chief about a strange white creature that had invaded their land. At the time,Kabaka Mwanga was taking charge of Buganda(1884-1888) and Busoga was a chiefdom under Buganda. Luba sent a message to Kabaka who panicked because it had been prophesied that his rule would be overthrown by people from the east. He quickly ordered for Hanningtons death.The bishop had been tortured for 8 days and 48 of his helpers put to death,hoping that he would reveal his motives. He was taken to the torture stone( a large rock) and told to climb it if he was truly Gods messenger of the gospel( he was already weak and helpless). They later took him to a rock where he was stoned, and tortured to death on October 29,1885. The remaining 2 helpers asked for his body as proof that actually he had been killed. On their way in Samia Bugwe,the body had started rotting and so they smoked it. When they reached Munyas in Kenya,they buried the body and sailed his head to UK. Every October 29, local and international communities commemorate his martyrdom at Kyando( 20Kms from Mayuge town and 30Kms from Jinja). Bishop Hannington memorial site,is the spot of the first and largest Christian martyrdom in Uganda.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:43:52 +0000
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