Saint Bruno SSERUNKUUMA

Saint Bruno SSERUNKUUMA

Nom: SSERUNKUUMA

Prénom: Bruno

Pays: Ouganda

Naissance:

Mort: 03.06.1886 à Namagongo

Etat: Laïc - Martyr du Groupe des 22 martyrs de l’Ouganda 2

Note: Son nom s’écrit aussi Séron Kuma. Soldat du roi, Baptisé le 18.11.1885.

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

Sserunkuuma was a Muganda of the sheep (Ovis-Ndiga) clan. His father was Namujulirwa the county chief of Buddu (Pookino). Namujulirwa was a polygamist. Sserunkuuma’s mother was Ndibaliza of the monkey clan.

He was born at masaka at the site of Ssaza (county) headquarters. Sserunkuuma was taken to King Muteesa 1’s palace. We don’t know when, but we are sure that in 1876 he was at that place with Byakweyamba and given the post of kitanda outside the palace.

He was one of the first pages Joseph Mukasa converted to the catholic faith. He was violent, cruel, lived recklessly, was impudent and a drunkard.

He strove manfully to master his temper and to control his passions. But even after baptism, Sserunkuuma had not yet fully mastered himself. At one occasion King Mwanga gave him two beautiful girls in appreciation for his work.

Sserunkuuma took them home as his wives and soon made one of them pregnant.

When his fellow Catholics, Charles Lwanga and Andrew Kaggwa in particular learnt of it, they worked hard to help him as a friend. He listened to their advice, called for Father Lourdel and made a sincere confession, so determine Sserunkuuma left his wives and roperty and went to one of te corners of the palace where he devoted himself to prayer, penace, eaching of religion and works of mercy.

This is where the Christian persecution met him. On his way to Namugongo his brother Bbosa gave him beer. But remembering the thirst of Christ on the cross, he refused it. He constantly and bravely encouraged others not to give up. He died on 3rd June 1886.

He is the patron saint of alcoholic, the violent, those with lust of flesh and improper marriage.