St. Mbaga Tuzinde

St. Mbaga Tuzinde was one of the youngest of the Martyrs of Uganda, a page of the court of King Mwanga II of Buganda who embraced the Catholic faith among the boys and young men who served the king. His martyrdom carried a particular poignancy, for he was the adopted son of the chief executioner, who pleaded with him and even hid him in an effort to save his life.

Mbaga refused to renounce his faith, choosing death with his companions over his father's mercy. He was among those brought to Namugongo, where, on 3 June 1886, he was put to death, according to the accounts killed by his own kinsmen just before the burning of the others. Canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964, he is celebrated among the Uganda Martyrs on 3 June.