Saint Jacques BUUZABALYAWO

Saint Jacques BUUZABALYAWO

Nom: BUUZABALYAWO

Prénom: Jacques

Pays: Ouganda

Naissance:

Mort: 03.06.1886 à Namagongo

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

Note: Soldat du roi. Baptisé en 1885. Brûlé vif.

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

Buuzabalyawo was a Muganda of the White Colobus Occidentalis (Ngeye) clan. James’ father was Ssebikejje kabazzi Kalinda and his mother was Lwambuzabuggyo of the Grasshopper clan.

It was from Wamala his brother that Buuzabalyawo was taken to King Muteesa’s palace by Nalinnya Namukwaya one of his close relatives.

He became a Catholic mainly after proving the celibacy of the Catholic Missionaries and the behavior of the Catholics, Joseph Mukasa, Balikuddembe and Andrew Kaggwa in particular.

When King Muteesa I died, Buuzabalyawo left the palace. He went and lived with Andrew Kaggwa where he took up Catholic instructions seriously. When he had learnt enough, Kaggwa used to send him to the palace and thus teach the Catholic religion to the prince Mwanga.

Buuzabalyawo picked up the skills and became one of Kaggwa’s able leaders of the King’s band.

He was baptized on 16th November, 1885 and given the name James. Tuesday evening of 25th of May, 1886, when King Mwanga broke into rage torturing Denis Ssebugwawo, he mdly procedded to Andrew Kaggwa’s and found Buuzabalyawo.

He pushed him over with his foot and ordered him to be arrested because he was a Christian. James was taken to Mengo with his fellow Christians and finally to Namugongo where he was burnt to death on Thursday noon 3rd June, 1886 at the age of about 26.

James is the patron saint of merchants and co-operatives.