Christianity and the Buganda
The growth of Christianity in Uganda dates back in the 19th Century. This was a time when Uganda was under Kingship rule. The first Missionaries arrived in Uganda in the year 1877 when Kabaka Muteesa was king. The prevalence of Christianity within the 19th century stems from Buganda which was an ancient component of the shores of the lake Nalubaale, meaning home of the balubaale gods.
This was then changed by the British to Lake Victoria. Baganda was a complex system of government led by king Kabaka. It had a centralized leadership and maintained high cohesiveness among the community. The fact that the Kiganda society was receptive and very adaptable to change gave way to Christianity1.
Kabaka Muteesa openness towards the outside world led him to open up trade with the Arabs and Swahilis. Items such as cotton cloth, guns and other luxurious items were exchanged for slaves and ivory. This relationship with the Arabs saw Islam permeate into the kingdom way before Christianity set pace in Uganda.
Islam and Christianity Impact
Islam and Christianity were the two religions that were making advances in the African continent and this resulted to heightened competition between the two.
Their relevance as âdiniâ by the Ugandans which was contradictory to the traditional African religious heritage gave them a sense of similarity in terms of world view. Christianity came in when the Buganda kingdom was in wrangles with the Islamic religion creating a very strategic and opportune time for Christianity.
But it experienced major back-drops because Islam was already entrenched in the Buganda kingdom system especially because it had already instigated a learning system for young pages (bagalagala) at the courts.
Christianity and Islam made an impact in the better half of the 19th Century with an advantage to a society that was ready to encompass new ideas and receptive to new technology, culture and religious influence2.
Muteesa Disconnect with Islam
Islam had integrated itself in the Buganda Kingdom for almost 10 years (1867 â 1876) and with strong support from Muteesa. The main reason as to why Kabaka had given into Islam was to enhance his power but by the year 1876, forces from Muslim in Egypt undermined his stature as a leader.
Such issues like uncircumcised leader leading prayers were in appropriate. The defiance by the young pages which led to execution of 100 Muslims made Kabaka bitter over the religion.
Christian Missionaries Arrival
In 1877, the Christian missionaries (Anglican Church Missionary Society, CMS) arrived in Buganda; this was a strategic time for the Christians. They were followed by a group of French Catholic Fathers in 1879. This also saw cut throat wrangles between Catholics and the Protestants.
Even though the competition was acceptable among the Baganda, this was one of its kind controversy that led to success of Christianity in Uganda. By 1881, baptism had already taking place, a sign of conversion of the Baganda. This was carried out by both the Protestants and Catholic Missionaries. The Catholics on the other hand, gained more recognition from Muteesa and Mwanga.
This gave them root for the Kabakas had raised suspicion over the Protestants. This had been as a result of CMS connections with General Gordon, who was an agent for the Egyptians in Sudan. Due to the suspicion, the CMS missionaries advocated for a British takeover of Uganda.
Withdrawal by the Catholics
Fr. Simeon Lourdel (‘Mapera’), who was a major player in the penetration of Catholism, incurred hostility from Muslims especially for his denunciations of Islam. The French also had no interest in the East African region and so by 1882, the White Fathers withdrew from Buganda3.
This decision might have been instigated by the fact that their concerns about the corruption of their orphans had at the same time, freed slaves that brought homosexual practices within their orphanages. Even after withdrawing, the Catholic activities continued to take root among the Buganda, which was marshaled by the Baganda Catholic converts.
Succession of Muteesa by Mwanga
In 1884, Mwanga, at a tender age of 18 years, succeeded his father. Mwanga had no religious affiliations and therefore was skeptic about faith. Additionally, he was a homosexual and this might have been what alienated him from the missionaries.
As a leader he needed to assert authority over his elements and factions within his kingdom. His authority and personal antagonisms with missionaries led to the death of three civilians due to their discontent and criticism of Mwangaâs leadership. This took place in 1885.
Ugandan Martyrs
Bugandaâs independence had threats from the Germanâs imperialism in 1885 and this is precisely what led to the death of an Anglican Bishop (James Hannington). Mwangaâs decision to terminate the bishop was as a result of the advice he received from the chiefs1. The advice suggested that such intrusion was detrimental to the state and therefore deemed to be a potential threat that needed to be terminated.
A further large massacre of killings happened in 1886 when Christians (both Catholic and Protestants) disobeyed Kabaka for they refused his plea to engage in homosexuality. This made him angry that he retorted to punishing them via execution. This led to the martyrdom in Uganda.
Religion Wars between 1888 and 1992
Due to the traumatic events that rocked Christianity between the years 1885-1886, missionaries had to seek outside assistance to enable the future permeability of the religion.
Mwangaâs reliance and affiliations with young leaders of the three warring religions (Muslims, Protestants and Catholics) came together by forming themselves into militarized regiments where they were notorious for their attitudes and acts of rape and plunder2. This therefore meant that, in order to secure Christianity there had to be some dependence on military and politics.
The forces became too powerful to Mwanga and he was over-thrown in the year 1888 where he ran for rescue at the southern part of the lake where the sought refuge with the White Fathers lived at a region called Bukumbi. Muslims had the most power (in-terms of numbers and ammunition) over the other two Christian groups. As a result, the Muslims ousted the Christian groups.
As Muslims experienced internal wrangles, Christians on the other hand did not give-up and they formed an alliance with the traditionalists who were against the Muslims. By the close of 1889, the Christians had temporarily defeated the Muslims. However, thereafter, wrangles erupted between Catholics and Protestants over power and division in the political office.
This led to a war fare that saw Protestants win over the Catholics. In the year 1897, there was an effort from Kabaka Mwanga to be set free but he was put down and was led to exile in Seychelles where he was forcefully baptized as a Protestant. This proved that Christianity and Imperialism had triumphed.
Revolution of Christianity
The Christian revolution therefore had a number of phases: new dini revolution (1888), Muslim revolution (1888-1889), Christian counter revolution (1889), Protestant take over (1892) and defeat of the Buganda Kingdom (1894-1900). This therefore saw Christianity dominate over Islam and the traditional perspectives were demolished. This gave way to the Protestants enabling them to take hold over Uganda.
The Spread of Christianity in Uganda
As Sub-Imperialism was taking root in Uganda, the missionary expansion of Church of Buganda evangelists paved in3. Colonialism within the Western, Northern and Eastern parts of Uganda also gave way to Christianity as well. By the year 1914, only three parts in Uganda had not been subdued by the missionaries.
Those parts included West Nile, Kigezi and Karamoja. This occurred as a result of the late additions of Uganda colonies by the British. Later on, Catholics leveraged on Kigezi (White Fathers) and West Nile (Verona Fathers).
Protestants and Catholics in Colonial Uganda
The neutral religious policy by the British saw the two competing Christian groups (Protestants and Catholics) extend their evangelical works freely throughout Uganda.
Christianity Impact on Education and Medicine
Most of the success of Christianity within the colonial era was as a result of the continued attraction of literacy among the Ugandans. This led to the establishment of formal systems of education within the villages. This also led to creation and expansion of hospitals facilities as from 1897.
Christianity in the Independent Uganda
On the onset of independence, Protestant-dominated party came into power prompting a continued cooperation among church members in Uganda and the state. But Church leaders tried to distance themselves from the political arena at the same time the politicians advocating for a non-denominational nationalism2.
The nation continued to experience major divisions especially in 1967 when the Buganda Kingdom and other Kingdoms were integrated as one state. These events brought conflict within the Church of Uganda. But upon Id Amin coming into power in 1971, he seemed to dilute the conflict.
In 1980 to 1985, the conflict rose once more but this time, during the reign of Obote. Religion had become the major factor that brought conflict within Ugandaâs politics. The continued wrangles of Protestants and Catholics led to the formation of Uganda Joint Christian Council (1963). Since 1962, Independent churches continued to blossom even though Amin had banned the churches.
Anglican and Catholic churches continue to record a high number of followers. Since the seizure of Aminâs power in 1971, a revolution and disintegration of the economy in Uganda and social servicesâ collapse of political bodies including the legal system and the media, insecurity of life and property saw the increased importance of the churches.
This was particularly because the churches served as safe havens for the natives in times of trouble.
Christianity remains at the heart of Ugandan society as a major contributor to the fundamental changes within the realms of politics, economic development and human rights among the people of Uganda. As one of the several countries that have had conflicts between Islam and Christianity, Uganda has finally embraced Christianity and gives it a great importance as a foundation of their lives in various aspects.
Bibliography
Jenkins, D. 2010. âThe growth of Christianity in Ugandaâ. Web.
Tomasevski, K. 1999. âMission to Ugandaâ. Commission on human rights. Web.
Ward, K. 1991. âA history of Christianity in Ugandaâ. Web.
Footnotes
1. Ward, K., 1991, âA history of Christianity in Ugandaâ.
2. Jenkins, D., 2010, âThe growth of Christianity in Ugandaâ.
3. Tomasevski, K., 1999 âMission to Ugandaâ Commission on human rights.