Saint Anatole KIRIGGWAJJO

Saint Anatole KIRIGGWAJJO

Nom: KIRIGGWAJJO

Prénom: Anatole

Pays: Ouganda

Naissance:

Mort: 03.06.1886 à Namagongo

Etat: Laïc - Martyr du Groupe des 22 martyrs de l’Ouganda

Note: Page du roi.

Béatification: 06.06.1920 à Rome par Benoît XV

Canonisation: 18.10.1964 à Rome par Paul VI

Fête: 3 juin

Réf. dans l’Osservatore Romano:

Réf. dans la Documentation Catholique: 1964 col.1345-1352

Kirigwajjo was a Munyoro from Kyaka county in Toro. He was of the Basiita descent belonging to the bush-buck clan. His parents are unknown.

He was captured by the raiding Baganda at the age of 16 and taken to a chief known as Kisomose. It was Kisomose who took him to the place of the King Muteesa 1 to serve as a page.

Kirigwajjo served mainly in the Twekobe (King’s house) under Joseph Mukasa. He was a skilled hunter and a good herdsman who had keen interest in both of these skills and who used his talents in them whenever he had a chance.

The palace Kirigwajjo was impressed by good behavior of the Catholics, their kindness, trustworthiness particularly of Joseph Mukasa their leader and Andrew Kaggwa his fellow tribes man.

He took up Catholic instruction given by these two. Kirigwajjo was a very strong and pious catholic. During King Mwang’s reign Kirigwajjo served in the audience hall. The King loved him and promoted him to a post of caring for his wives’ rooms and commodities from outside.

Anatoli found out that the post would destroy his beloved virtue of chastity. H thus dared to decline the post though h was sure would result into the loss of his life. But this time though the king got very annoyed he did not order for his death.

When the Christians persecution broke out, the King singled him out and said “This Munyoro page, refused the post I gave him, thus despising me.”

Anatoli was burnt to death at Namugongo on 3rd June, 1886.

He I the Patron of hunters and herdsmen