Ponsiano Ngondwe
Ugandan Catholic Matryr
Feast: 3 June (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Pontian Ngondwe, born at Bulimu, was a courtier of King Mutesa and joined the army when Mwanga came to the throne. Even as a catechumen his Christian spirit overcame his harsh and difficult character. He was baptised on 18 November 1885, as the persecution began, and soon afterwards was imprisoned.
Condemned to death, he was led towards Namugongo by the executioner Mukajanga, who repeatedly asked him on the way whether he was a Christian. He is one of the 22 martyrs of Uganda, St Charles Lwanga and companions, put to death under King Mwanga.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A soldier whose faith tamed his temper and who died for Christ.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Pontian Ngondwe
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatification of 6 June 1920
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - canonisation of 18 October 1964
- Wikidata Q116620894 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.