History
Missionaries and Religion in Pre-colonial Uganda
The Arab traders had brought Islam to Uganda. Slavery and bigamy, so prevalent in Bagandan culture, were condoned by the Muslims; this made it a very easy faith to relate to. The antithesis of these values presented themselves in the Christians who arrived from Europe condemning slavery and advocating monogamy.
Most relevant to Uganda was the conflict between the Protestants, represented by the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S.) and the Roman Catholics represented by the French White Fathers. The protagonists in the 1880s in Uganda were Alexander Mackay of the C.M.S. and Pere Lourdel of the White Fathers.
Though ardent rivals, the two men were forced into friendship because of steadily increasing hostility from Mutesa who, by the early 1880s, had become unpredictable and bloodthirsty. When Mutesa died in 1884 and his son Mwanga succeeded him, a new hope was short lived.
Mwanga, who was only 18 years old, distrusted the missionaries and all their followers. He was responsible for the torture and murder of thousands of Christians, among them Bishop Hannington. The murder of Hannington and his retinue sparked a full year of relentless killings. It was not until Lugard came to Mwanga's court that the Kabaka had other matters, more pressing, to consider.
The Arab traders had brought Islam to Uganda. Slavery and bigamy, so prevalent in Bagandan culture, were condoned by the Muslims; this made it a very easy faith to relate to. The antithesis of these values presented themselves in the Christians who arrived from Europe condemning slavery and advocating monogamy.
Most relevant to Uganda was the conflict between the Protestants, represented by the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S.) and the Roman Catholics represented by the French White Fathers. The protagonists in the 1880s in Uganda were Alexander Mackay of the C.M.S. and Pere Lourdel of the White Fathers.
Though ardent rivals, the two men were forced into friendship because of steadily increasing hostility from Mutesa who, by the early 1880s, had become unpredictable and bloodthirsty. When Mutesa died in 1884 and his son Mwanga succeeded him, a new hope was short lived.
Mwanga, who was only 18 years old, distrusted the missionaries and all their followers. He was responsible for the torture and murder of thousands of Christians, among them Bishop Hannington. The murder of Hannington and his retinue sparked a full year of relentless killings. It was not until Lugard came to Mwanga's court that the Kabaka had other matters, more pressing, to consider.
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