In recent days thousands of people have made their way from across Africa to the community of Namugongo in Uganda to pay homage to the 22 converts to Catholicism and 23 members of the Anglican faith who were killed at that location by order of the king of what it now Uganda due to their conversion to the Christian faith. They were murdered in 1885 and 1887, and on June 3rd they are honored on the Ugandan holiday of Christian Martyrs Day. In recent years, as Ugandans have migrated to various places around the world, that event has been commemorated in many other locales. In Oklahoma City a commemoration of the martyrs was held I on Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 ,in the home of Jackie and Geoffrey Oryema, who have lived in Oklahoma’s capital city for years The gathering began with prayers being said by Father Martin, a priest in the Oklahoma City Archdiocese who is a native of Uganda and has served in several different parishes in the Oklahoma City area. Two other Catholic priests from Uganda who also serve in the Oklahoma City Archdiocese, Fathers Tee and John, were also present. The attendees included Ugandan natives who are now in Oklahoma who work as engineers, teaching assistants at OU and OSU who are in process of completing graduate degrees. Their handsome and energetic young children soon filled a neighboring yard where a soccer ball was soon being kicked with enthusiasm and squeals of delight could be heard. Since many of those young people are from different regions of Uganda and speak different mother tongues as a result, they were encouraged to speak in English which is a language that they all have mastered . Most of the adults set in circles and listened to Ugandan music and partook of the food and strong drink that was in abundant supply. The former included rice and chicken cooked in the Ugandan manner as well as Indian bread of the type that is popular in Indian restaurants in Oklahoma City and said to be naan, but is known as chapatti in Uganda and other states in East Africa. It was explained that that bread was brought to Africa by Indian cooks and traders when much of that continent was part of the British Empire. A large bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label Scotch was on display on a table, and as the evening went on its was gradually emptied, but it was soon replaced by another one. Wine bottles that ran dry were also replaced by the generous hosts. There was a festive atmosphere at that gathering and people often hugged one another and proudly introduced their children to the other attendees. A carload of guests from Stillwater were present, and it was explained that all of them are affiliated with OSU, and they spoke of their love for that institution due to the educational opportunities that it has afforded them. As the guests began to leave, Geoffrey Oryema thanked them for attending, and said that another Ugandan Christian Martyrs Day event will be held next year.
Against the Grain 