Christian Missionaries

A missionary is a person whose duty is to try to convert people to his/her religion.

Christian missionary activities were supported by British organisations such as the Living stone Central African Trading Company. Missionaries came to Uganda to teach people about Christianity.

They were invited by Kabaka Mutesa I through Henry Morton Stanley. Kabaka Mutesa 1 requested H.M Stanley to write a letter to the queen of England on his behalf.

The letter was taken by a Frenchman Linant de Belfond and was published in the daily telegraph News paper of 15th November, 1875.

Missionaries came to Uganda to teach people reading, writing, arithmetic and vocational skills like painting and building Kabaka Mutesa 1 also wanted missionaries to provide guns and help him fight his enemies especially Bunyoro.

Protestant missionaries.
The first group of missionaries arrived in Uganda on 31st July, 1877 and belonged to the Church Missionary Society (CMS). These were; Shergold Smith, Rev. C.T Wilson and 0' Neil.

Alexander Mackay joined them in 1878 and was their leader. He was a builder and carpenter. He brought the first printing press to Uganda and it was used to print Christian literature. Shergold Smith and 0' Neil died at Ukerewe Islands on Lake Victoria.

Roman Catholic Mission (RCM). 

These were White Fathers who arrived at Rubaga on 21st February 1879. They were led by Reverend Father Simon Lourdel together with Brother Amans Delamas, Father Leon Livinhac and Father Leon Barbot.

Other Roman Catholic missionaries groups included:- 

• Mill Hill Fathers, 
• BrotherS of Christian Instruction and 
• Holy Ghost Fathers.

Effects of the coming of missionaries to Uganda

Missionary activities changed the culture and beliefs of people by introducing Christianity.

Many people were converted and acquired other names. They introduced new systems of education and built schools. They emphasised teaching of Arithmetic, reading and writing. Examples of schools that were built by the various groups of missionaries in Uganda.

School                             Missionary group
Gayaza high school.         Church missionary society
King's College Buddo        Church missionary society
Iganga s.s.s                     Church Missionary Society
Namilyango College          Mill Hill Fathers
St. Peters Nsambya          White Fathers
Rubaga High School         White Fathers
St Mary's College Kisubi    Brothers of Christian Instruction

They also built hospitals where people were treated using western drugs instead of local herbs. Examples of hospitals that were built by missionaries in Uganda include Lubaga, Nsambya and Mengo.

They introduced improved cotton seeds. Kenneth Borup brought those seeds. Cotton growing improved the income of many people.

 

They taught people vocational skills in form of art and crafts, carpentry, metal works, printing and building.

 

They taught people English which solved the problem of language barrier among different tribes. English is also the official language of Uganda today.

 

They taught christianity which promoted love, forgiveness and peace. 

Negative effects of missionary work in Uganda.

• They preached against traditional culture.
•  Cultures were diluted which affected the morals and customs of society.
• They brought about divisions among the people through religious wars and ways of worship.
• They paved the way for colonial administrators.

 
Persecution of Christian Converts 

Before Mutesa 1 died, he had developed mistrust towards missionaries because:- 

They did not give him guns as he had expected. This annoyed him and had no trust in them any more. Christians converts started disobeying him. His subjects were not following his orders.

Missionaries were preaching against African traditional practices which annoyed the leaders. They were disregarding their cultures.

When Mutesa 1 died on 10th October, 1884, his son Basamula Daniel Mwanga succeeded him. He developed more hatred for missionaries and Christian converts because they disobeyed his orders.

The converts could no longer respect the King and followed orders of the missionaries.

Missionaries preached against traditional practices. The christian teaching were against their customs and cultures. This annoyed the King and he wanted all missionary activities to be stopped in his kingdom.

On 31 st January, 1885, he ordered the killing of the first Christian converts at Nateete. They were:-Yusuf Lugalama, Makko Kakumba and Nuwa Sserwanga. Bishop Hannington was also murdered at Chief Luba's Fort in Busoga in October 1885 on the orders of Mwanga.

He was on his way to Buganda but according to the kiganda traditions, any foreigner who would enter Buganda from the East was a threat to the Kingdom.

A Martyr is a person who dies because of his or her faith. Massive killing of Christians was at Namugongo in 1886, on the order of Kabaka Mwonga. However, when Pope Paul VI came to Uganda in 1969 he canonised the Uganda Martyrs. On 3rd June every year, Christians go to Namugongo to remember the Uganda Martyrs.