By Nicholas Akasula
Every 3rd June, the world commemorates the Uganda Martyrs, whom some refer to as saints. The 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts were executed between January 31, 1885, and January 27, 1887, by order of Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda.
Millions of pilgrims flock to Namugongo, Kampala, the site of their execution, to honour their sacrifice.
Their deaths occurred amid intense religious rivalry at the Buganda royal court. Following their martyrdom, the Catholic Church beatified the 22 Catholic martyrs in 1920, and Pope Paul VI canonised them in 1964 at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
As we mark their memory, we reflect on the broader subject of sainthood across Christian traditions.
Understanding sainthood in the Catholic Church
In Catholic teaching, sainthood refers to the official recognition of a person, usually posthumously, who lived a life of heroic virtue. The Church formally declares them a saint through a rigorous process involving investigation, spiritual scrutiny, and often miracles.
Key elements of sainthood:
- Heroic virtue: A saint is someone who has exemplified virtues such as faith, hope, charity, prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude to an extraordinary degree.
- Official declaration: Sainthood is not self-proclaimed or informal; it is a solemn declaration by the Pope.
- Public veneration: Once canonised, the saint is honoured universally within the Catholic Church.
The process:
- Investigation: After the individual’s death, Church officials begin examining their life and virtues, often collecting testimonies and evidence.
- Beatification: If the candidate’s life is found worthy, they are declared “Blessed,” allowing local or regional veneration.
- Canonisation: A confirmed miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession typically leads to their canonisation, officially recognising them as a saint.
While miracles are traditionally required, the Pope can waive this requirement in rare cases.
The Catholic Church also stresses that sainthood is not a reward for popularity but recognition of sanctity. It serves as an invitation for all faithful to pursue a life of holiness, regardless of their social standing or vocation. Laypeople, clergy, and even children have been declared saints, illustrating the Church’s belief that sanctity is accessible to all.
The Anglican perspective
In Anglicanism, sainthood is less about formal canonisation and more about acknowledging individuals who lived exemplary Christian lives. Saints are seen as models of faith, devotion, and holiness.
Core beliefs:
- Exemplars of faith: Saints inspire believers by their life and witness to Christ.
- Veneration, not worship: Anglicans honour saints but reserve worship for God alone.
- Christ-centred: Saints reflect the work of Christ in their lives.
- Communion of saints: Anglicans uphold the spiritual unity of all believers, both living and departed.
Figures such as Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, and Alfred the Great are commemorated for their contributions to the Church. These saints are regarded as spiritual elders—believers who walked closely with God and whose lives continue to inspire.
In many Anglican dioceses, feast days of saints are incorporated into the liturgical calendar, accompanied by special prayers and sermons reflecting on the saint’s life. However, sainthood is not confined to ancient figures. Contemporary Christian heroes like Archbishop Janani Luwum, martyred in 1977, are increasingly recognised within Anglican circles for their courage and witness.
Pentecostal understanding
Among pentecostals, sainthood is interpreted differently. The term “saint” applies to all believers who are “set apart” by God through faith in Jesus Christ. For pentecostals, sainthood is not earned through deeds or declared by any earthly authority but is a spiritual identity given by God.
Key beliefs:
- God’s declaration: A saint is anyone sanctified by faith in Christ.
- Holiness: Saints are called to live holy lives marked by obedience, prayer, and service.
- Living witness: Believers express their sainthood through daily conduct, sharing the gospel, and using spiritual gifts.
- Communal identity: Pentecostals emphasise the “communion of saints” as the collective body of true believers, united in Christ.
Apostle John Kiggundu of Power of God Church in Kulambiro explains: “Sainthood begins the moment one accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour. You don’t have to die first.” He adds that fulfilling righteousness through baptism and upright living affirms one’s sainthood in God’s eyes.
For pentecostals, the focus is not on venerating saints of the past but on living as saints today. The emphasis is on personal transformation, discipleship, and service. Sainthood is a present-tense calling, not a historical honour.
Notable saints across traditions
Catholic saints:
Famous Catholic saints include the Virgin Mary, St Joseph, St Peter, St Paul, St Francis of Assisi, St Thomas Aquinas, St Teresa of Avila, and St Joan of Arc.
Anglican saints:
Among those venerated in Anglicanism are Aelred of Rievaulx, Aidan of Lindisfarne, Alban, Alcuin of York, Alfred the Great, Alphege of Canterbury, and Anselm of Canterbury.
These figures span centuries and continents, reflecting the global and historical breadth of Christianity. Their legacies endure in writings, institutions, and the faithful communities that remember them.
Ugandans in the sainthood pipeline
Several Ugandans are currently being considered for sainthood in the Catholic Church:
- Msgr Aloysius Ngobya
- Sr Amedeo Byabari
- Clara Nalumansi
- Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa (The Martyrs of Wii Polo)
Case of Msgr Aloysius Ngobya
Ordained in 1915, Msgr Ngobya served the Church for 71 years until his death in 1985. Reports suggest he performed miracles during his lifetime. In 2011, his remains were exhumed with Vatican approval. Remarkably, organs like his heart and lungs were reportedly intact after 26 years in the grave, a phenomenon regarded by some as miraculous.
Rev Fr Henry Kasule, who promotes Ngobya’s cause, recounts the case of Angella Nakaweesi, a girl allegedly healed of a heart condition after her family prayed through Ngobya’s intercession. Unable to afford surgery, her parents turned to prayer. They claim her condition reversed miraculously.
The Church has documented many such testimonies, although most fall under “favours” rather than medically verified miracles. The Vatican’s Miracle Commission, a panel including scientists and theologians, reviews such cases meticulously. At least three out of five members must agree the healing defies scientific explanation.
Rome began evaluating evidence from Masaka Diocese in 2018, and although no declaration has been made yet, the faithful continue to pray for Ngobya’s beatification.
Other candidates like Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa were beatified in 2002 by Pope John Paul II and await canonisation. These young catechists were martyred in 1918 in northern Uganda for their dedication to teaching the faith—echoing the legacy of Namugongo’s martyrs.
Theological reflections
Catholic view
Venansio Ahabwe, a Catholic social scientist, argues that saints are not dead in the spiritual sense. Quoting Jesus in John 11:26: “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die,” he asserts that Christians remain alive in Christ.
Citing Romans 14:8-10, he notes: “Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Thus, the deceased faithful remain part of the Church and their legacy can shape communities for generations.
Ahabwe also cautions against misunderstanding prayer to saints: “We do not pray to the dead; we pray with them and ask for their intercession.”
Anglican reflection
Rev Eric Mbusa of Kasese Diocese sees saints as role models whose lives reflect Christian virtues like love, service, and sacrifice. For him, sainthood should be an aspiration for all believers.
“Christians must be open to doing God’s will and responsive to the Holy Spirit in daily life,” he says. Although Anglicans honour saints, they do not follow a formal canonisation process. Instead, they celebrate feast days and draw lessons from the lives of those who walked faithfully with God.
Conclusion
While traditions differ, the essence of sainthood across Christian denominations remains centred on holiness, devotion to God, and lives that point others to Christ.
Whether formally canonised or not, saints serve as witnesses of God’s transformative power—reminding us that all believers are called to holiness. Their lives continue to inspire the Church today, urging each of us to walk faithfully in our unique callings.
In the spirit of the Uganda Martyrs and countless others who have gone before, sainthood is less a title than a testimony, a beacon of faith that continues to shine through the ages.
