Short answer: Saint Matia Mulumba Kalemba was a Ugandan Catholic martyr who organised a Christian community at Mityana before he was killed around 30 May 1886. He was beatified in 1920 and canonised on 18 October 1964, and his feast day is 30 May. The Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese honours him each year.
Last updated: 29 October 2026. Sources differ on details of his death, and we note where.
Matia Mulumba is one of the oldest of the Uganda Martyrs, and he is linked with Mityana, west of Kampala. His story is less known than that of Charles Lwanga, but pilgrims honour him every year. This guide explains who he was and what is known about the pilgrimage connected with him.
Who was Matia Mulumba?
Matia Mulumba Kalemba was born around 1836 in Bunya County in what is now eastern Uganda. As a boy he was captured, and he later served a chief of Ssingo County. He became known as The Mulumba and was given work on the royal palace.
He was first drawn to Islam, then to Anglican teaching, before enrolling as a Catholic catechumen on 31 May 1880. He was baptised in 1882. He lived at Mityana, about 47 miles from the capital, and organised a Christian community there during the missionaries’ absence from 1882 to 1885. By 1886 it numbered about 200.
Arrest and death
His master arrested him and Luke Banabakintu in May 1886. The chancellor sentenced them to death. On the way to Namugongo he asked to be killed at Old Kampala, and he is recorded as dying around 30 May 1886, in his fifties.
Accounts differ on small details. One biography gives his death as presumably on Sunday 30 May and says the date is an estimate, and a diocesan event report speaks of his birthplace at Butega village. We follow the biographical accounts, which place his death at Old Kampala.
Sainthood and feast day
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Born | Around 1836, Bunya County, Busoga |
| Catholic catechumen | 31 May 1880 |
| Died | Around 30 May 1886 |
| Beatified | 1920, by Pope Benedict XV |
| Canonised | 18 October 1964, by Pope Paul VI |
| Feast day | 30 May |
He is among the 22 Catholic martyrs canonised together. Read who the Uganda Martyrs were and the life of Charles Lwanga for the wider story.
Pilgrimage in Mityana
The Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese has a parish named for St. Matia Mulumba at Butega village. A report of the 30 May celebration said thousands of Christians from different parts of Uganda came to pay homage, and the diocese receives hundreds of local and international pilgrims each year.
We found no published visiting hours, facilities or description of the shrine itself, so contact the diocese before you plan a visit.
Combine Mityana with other martyr sites
Most pilgrims pair Mityana with Namugongo and the Uganda Martyrs trail. The 3-day Uganda Martyrs trail pilgrimage covers the main sites, and Mityana can be added on request. See religious tourism in Uganda for all itineraries.
Matia Mulumba FAQs
Who is Saint Matia Mulumba Kalemba?
He was a Ugandan Catholic who organised a Christian community at Mityana and was killed around 30 May 1886. He was canonised on 18 October 1964 with the other Uganda Martyrs.
When is the feast of Matia Mulumba?
His feast day is 30 May. The Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese holds a celebration on that day each year.
Where was Matia Mulumba killed?
Biographical accounts say he asked to be killed at Old Kampala on the way to Namugongo. A diocesan report links his birthplace with Butega village in Mityana.
Can I visit the Matia Mulumba shrine in Mityana?
Pilgrims visit the St. Matia Mulumba parish at Butega. We found no published hours, so contact the Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese first.
Can you add Mityana to a martyrs pilgrimage?
Yes, on request. Request a free quote.
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About the author: Victoria Kayaga
Victoria Kayaga is a Ugandan-born safari expert and the founder of Afraeka Adventures, with over 7 years of experience in the East African tourism industry. She specializes in gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris and multi-country itineraries across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
