A count on the Uganda Martyrs

The red-tiled building spears through the greenery that surrounds it like a lighthouse by the sea. It sits there quietly, in peaceful observance of time, living out the meaning of the name of the hill on which it’s built– Namirembe, the place of peaceIt has stood there for 124 years now, and that is if you consider the 29 years of earlier churches that were destroyed to allow for its construction. All that while, it has been the ultimate place of worship for many Christians and the provincial seat of the Anglican Church in Uganda
Namirembe Hill has been the location of the main Anglican place of worship in Buganda since Bishop Alfred Tucker established the offices of the Diocese of Eastern Equatorial in Africa in 1890. Tragedy befell the first four church structures. The first church building, constructed in 1890, with a capacity of 800 people, was abandoned in 1891 because it was located in a swampy area at the base of Namirembe Hill. Also, a bigger building was needed to accommodate the ever-growing congregation. The second church building was constructed between July 1891 and July 1892, with a seating capacity of more than 3,000. In October 1894, strong winds during a thunderstorm blew the roof off the church and it was ruined. The third church building was built between 1894 and 1895. It had a seating capacity of about 4,000 worshippers. That building, constructed with traditional African materials, was abandoned in the early 1900s due to fear that termites would destroy it. The fourth church building was constructed with earthen brick walls and a thatched roof, between 1900 and 1904. At the opening ceremony, on Tuesday 21 June 1904, an estimated 10,000 people were in attendance. The congregation included Ssekabaka Daudi ChwaII then aged seven. On the afternoon of Friday 23 September 1910, the roof was gutted by a fire which started when lightning struck the building. Within less than thirty minutes, the entire roof was destroyed and the church was ruined. The current St. Paul's Cathedral was constructed between 1915 and 1919 using earthen bricks and earthen roof tiles. The cathedral is still standing, while needing repairs from time to time.
Namirembe Cathedral specifically stands for its connection to Buganda Kingdom.The Kabaka is the patron of Namirembe Cathedral. The church is very important to the kingdom because it was built on land given by the Kabaka, way back in the past centuries.It is one of the hills where the Kabaka used to conduct his work and where peace was negotiated. Also, the first royal Christian wedding between Kabaka Daudi Chwa and Priscilla Namaganda took place there on September 19, 1914.
Its importance goes beyond Buganda to include Uganda as a whole. The Historic Buildings Conservation Trust lists it among Uganda’s historic sites. The cathedral receives tourists from abroad not forgetting; a stream of native visitors, especially students, who visit the site. It is one of the oldest churches in the East African region. The cathedral has burial grounds of leading figures in Uganda’s history rest. Among them: Dr Albert and Catherine Cook who started Uganda’s first hospital at Mengo and Bishop Hannington and Alexander Mackay, both missionaries. The burial grounds are meant for people who have made distinguished services to Namirembe diocese and to bishops and their wives. The repair of St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe has provided lessons to Uganda on just how such ancient sites should be treated, a reason as to why no society should ever allow itself to pass-on a collection of ruined, tattered and dilapidated heritage to its next generation.

The Bulange, Buganda’s parliament building is also situated on Namirembe Hill, just across from Mengo hill. The Mengo Palace on Mengo hill is connected to the Bulange on Namirembe Hill by a straight road, about a mile long, called Kabaka Anjagala Road (The King Loves Me). About halfway, the straight road is intersected by Rubaga Road. There is a roundabout for the use of ordinary travelers. However, there is a strait-way through the roundabout with a gate. That is for the exclusive use of the Kabaka when moving between the palace and the parliament building. Tradition forbids the king from going round the roundabout. He must travel straight when moving between the two locations. Other notable features are: residence of the Archbishop of the provincial church of Uganda, residence of the Bishop of Namirembe Anglican Diocese, Sanyu Babies Home - An Orphanage managed by a privateNGO, The parliamentary building that houses the parliament of Buganda(Bulange complex) and  the offices of the Kabaka, a prestigious public mixed day school known as Mengo Senior School, Namirembe Guesthouse - A Christian Guesthouse (formerly the CMS Guesthouse)

namirembe cathedral