St. Matthias Mulumba

St. Matthias Mulumba, also known as Matthias Kalemba, was among the older of the Martyrs of Uganda, a man of mature years who held the office of a judge or chief under the kingdom of Buganda. Having earlier known something of both Islam and Protestant teaching, he embraced the Catholic faith with wholehearted conviction and became a respected leader among the Christians of the court of King Mwanga II.

When the persecution of Christians broke out in 1886, Matthias openly confessed his faith. Rather than being sent with the younger pages to Namugongo, he was condemned to an especially cruel death: his limbs were cut off and he was left to die of his wounds and thirst by the roadside at Old Kampala on 30 May 1886, bearing his agony with steadfast patience. Canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964, he is celebrated among the Uganda Martyrs on 3 June.