Who Are the francisan friars at Munyonyo Martrys Shrine?
The Conventual Franciscan Friars
also known as the Greyfriars—have been entrusted with overseeing the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine and the associated parish since October 2013
They established a friary next to the shrine in
October 2017 responding to a request by the Archbishop of Kampala for them to develop and promote the site of martyrdom of Saints Andrew Kaggwa, Denis Ssebugwawo, and Pontiano Ngondwe . In
January 2023, they further expanded by constructing a post-novitiate house for philosophy studies
on the same grounds
Kampala – Munyonyo: St. Francis of Assisi Friary and Uganda Martyrs Shrine
The friary was erected on October 22, 2017 in the Archbishop of Kampala asked the friars to develop and promote the site where Saints Andrew Kaggwa (Patron Saint of Catechists), Denis Ssebugwawo (Patron Saint of Choirs) and Pontian Ngondwe (Patron Saint of Soldiers) were martyred in 1886, and where Charles Lwanga and companions began their trek towards martyrdom.
After the friars erected the Shrine of Munyonyo, its pastoral care was entrusted to the Order. In 2019, the shrine was elevated to a minor basilica through the consecration of His Eminence Cardinal Robert SARAH, then Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The friars here have been serving the local parishioners as well as the many pilgrims who come to this holy site, consecrated by the noble blood of the martyrs who died here. The friary was built next to the shrine and on January 8, 2023, a post-novitiate house for philosophy studies was erected.
Foundation of the Friary
On October 22, 2017, the St. Francis of Assisi Friary
was officially erected in Munyonyo. Its establishment followed a request by the Archbishop of Kampala
, who invited the Franciscan Friars to take on the mission of developing and promoting this historic and sacred place.
This is the site where in
1886, several of the Uganda Martyrs
embraced their martyrdom:
After the friars erected the Shrine of Munyonyo, its pastoral care was entrusted to the Order. In 2019, the shrine was elevated to a minor basilica through the consecration of His Eminence Cardinal Robert SARAH, then Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The friars here have been serving the local parishioners as well as the many pilgrims who come to this holy site, consecrated by the noble blood of the martyrs who died here. The friary was built next to the shrine and on January 8, 2023, a post-novitiate house for philosophy studies was erected.
- St. Andrew Kaggwa – Patron Saint of Catechists
- St. Denis Ssebugwawo – Patron Saint of Choirs
- St. Pontian Ngondwe – Patron Saint of Soldiers
It is also here that St. Charles Lwanga and companions began their final journey toward martyrdom, leaving Munyonyo for Namugongo.
