Bikumya, Petero

[BUNYORO]

Petero Bikumya was born at Bugoma and baptized there.[1] In 1903 he went to Burega as a teacher and stayed there for about two years.[2] In 1907 he was appointed sub-chief at Bugoma in succession to Daudi Bitatule. He preached regularly in the church.[3] On the death of Paulo Byabaowezi in 1912 he was appointed regent to one of his sons, Zakayo Jawe. In 1917 he was made katikiro of Bunyoro. He was the author of Ky’Abakama ba Bunyoro published in 1927. He was given awards both by the Bunyoro Kingdom Government and the Protectorate Government for his services as katikiro, and was awarded the M.B.E. He died on October 2, 1939.

Louise Pirouet**

Notes(short form; see List of Sources for complete citations):

Except where otherwise stated, this account is based on an obituary in the Bunyoro Church Magazine, 1939, p. 76.

1. Kakumba, 1967.

2. Kakumba, 1967; Nyamayarwa, 1967.

3. See Church of Uganda Service Books.

This biography, written by Louise Pirouet, was included in “Appendix A: Biographical Notes,” on page 374 of “The Expansion of the Church of Uganda (N.A.C.) from Buganda into Northern and Western Uganda between 1891 and 1914, with Special Reference to the work of African Teachers and Evangelists” (PhD Thesis: University of East Africa, 1968). Pirouet published this thesis as Black Evangelists (London: Rex Collings, 1978). However, Black Evangelists does not reproduce the detailed biographies, complete with references to sources, found in Appendix A of the thesis. Print copies are available at Africana Section, Makerere University Library (U 02 P57); The Centre for Christianity Worldwide, Cambridge; and a microfilm copy at the School of Oriental Studies, London. [information from Angus Crichton]