St. Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth action in most of Equitorial Africa. He was a man wholly dedicated to the Christian instruction of the younger boys. Charles can also intercede for converts and torture victims.

The various churches of the Anglican Communion also honor the Martyrs of Uganda, including St. Charles Lwanga. The Martyrs of Uganda is a group of 45 Anglican and Roman Catholic martyrs who were executed during the persecution of Christians under Mwanga, kabaka (ruler) of Buganda, from 1885 to 1887.


Led by Charles Lwanga and Joseph Mukasa, the young men were killed because of their Christian Faith and their refusal to obey the immoral and abusive orders of the king. Also killed with the Catholic martyrs honoured today are a group of Anglican martyrs. All shared the same fate, regardless of their faith tradition. For his own unwillingness to submit to the immoral acts and his efforts to safeguard the faith of his friends, Charles was burned to death at Namugongo on 3 June 1886, by Mwanga’s order.

Pope Paul VI canonised St. Charles and his companions on 18 October 1964.