In the interior of central Africa the first Catholic missions
were established by Cardinal Lavigerie's White Fathers in 1879.
In Uganda some progress was made under the not unfriendly local
ruler, Mtesa; but his successor, Mwanga, determined to root out
Christianity among his people, especially after a Catholic
subject, St. Joseph Mkasa, reproached him for his debauchery and
for his massacre of the Protestant missionary James Hannington
and his caravan. Mwanga was addicted to unnatural vice and his
anger against Christianity, already kindled by ambitious
officers who played on his fears, was kept alight by the refusal
of Christian boys in his service to minister to his wickedness.
himself was the first victim: Mwanga. seized on a trifling
pretext and on November 15, 1885, had him beheaded. To the
chieftain's astonishment the Christians were not cowed by this
sudden outrage, and in May of the following year the storm
burst. When he called for a young 'page' called Mwafu, Mwanga
learned that he had been receivi