When one talks about the Uganda Martyrs, everyone’s mind runs to Namugongo, the place they were martyred; very few people will think about where the martyrs were born and bred. St Kizito was the youngest of the 45 martyrs. He was burnt in Namugongo in 1886. Many people know where St. Kizito was murdered but very few know that he was a resident of Kiggwe, Waluleeta Village in the Wobulenzi Kasana-Luweero Diocese, before relocating to Kabaka’s palace. Our tour guide, Evans Nuwangira said Waluleeta village derived its name from a lone grinding stone that served the whole village, but because of competition at the grindingstone, the villagers would ask each other if they were the ones who brought the grinding stone to the village, “Olubengo gwe waluleeta.” After the martyrdom of St Kizito, the village became more famous as the birthplace of St Kizito and the grinding stone was forgotten. Kizito was born to Mr Lukomera and Miss Wangabira but was later taken to the Kabaka’s palace where he served as a royal Page. In Kiggwe Waluleeta village, the Sub-Parish is named after him.
The Sub-Parish is home to St Kizito Waluleeta Sub-Parish, St Kizito Primary school Waluleeta and the shrine dedicated to St Kizito. It is believed that all these were built in what used to be St Kizito’s family homestead. At the shrine is a statue of St Kizito, seated on a stool, under a big Muvule tree, holding a cross in one hand and a bible in another. Two small huts to symbolize Kizito’s home were constructed under the tree. One of the huts represents a bedroom, while the other a kitchen. The bedroom has a locally made bed from sticks, a sack of dry grass, two backcloths laid on the bed, and next to the bed, is a symbolic pot for drinking water with two calabashes. In Kizito’s kitchen is a symbolic cooking pot sitting on a fireplace. The tour guide said it is believed that when Kizito left for the palace, his parents sold the land to a Muslim man and relocated to Ndejje, but one Catholic, Platin Sabakaki Magala bought the land from the Muslim man and donated it to the Church.
Unfortunately, Mr Sabakaki died in 1976 and was buried in the compound that houses the shrine, Church and school. He was buried alongside his wife who died in 1978 and his son who died in 1993. St Kizito was born in 1873. It is believed that his father accepted to be baptized while his mother declined. Kizito was baptized by Kaloli Lwanga on May 26 1886. He was burnt in Namugongo on 3rd June 1886 on orders of Kabaka Mwanga. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XV on October 18 1964 and was canonized by St Pope Paul VI. St Kizito is the patron saint of Kasana-Luweero Diocese, children and Primary schools in Uganda. The late Archbishop, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (R.I.P) had plans of building a museum in memory of St Kizito.
Mr Nuwagira revealed that he had already told them the day he was supposed to go to Waluleeta to lay a foundation stone but he met his death before all that could happen. He hopes this will happen one day.
