Fataki, Mika

[BUNYORO]

Mika Fataki was a Musoga whose original name was Lubuale [ending partially illegible]. His father was a chief in Busoga. During Mwanga’s reign he took service in the lubiri as an askari. In 1886 he fled to Ankole with the Christians although not yet a Christian himself. He then went to Bunyoro and stayed there as a murusura under Ewabudongo [beginning partially illegible] where he helped to guard the kikaale (royal enclosure). Here he earned the nickname Fataki by which he was always afterwards known (Fataki is the Swahili for gun-cap and it is said he earned it because of his good marksmanship).[1] In 1894 he went to Toro where he met Mako Lweimbazi, a Muganda teacher, and he started to learn to read the Watoka [partially illegible]. From Toro he went to Buganda where he continued to learn to read, and asked for teachers to be sent to Bunyoro. In 1895 he was instrumental in getting the Rev. A. B. Fisher to visit Bunyoro, and in getting Buganda teachers—he made several journeys to Nango for this purpose, as the teachers, meeting opposition, did not stay long. He was baptized at Namirembe by the Rev. H. W. D. Kitakule on July 24, 1898.[2] In 1889* he preached his first sermon at Masindi.[3] In 1901 the missionaries were very pleased when he was appointed sekibobo, saza chief of Chope which included Masindi.[4] He contributed two tusks of ivory for the building of the third Namirembe Cathedral. In 1915 he retired to Kigaya and helped Paulo Mude to establish the first church there. He did much to encourage agriculture, and his wife helped to teach the women.[5] In 1931 he wrote and account of the coming of Christianity to Bunyoro which was published in the Bunyoro Church Magazine, 1932, pp. 65-7, 96.

Louise Pirouet**

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

Except where otherwise stated, this is based on his own account, in the Bunyoro Church Magazine.

1. S. Fataki and A. Lukayi, 1967.

2. Baptism Register, Namirembe Cathedral.

3. Fisher Papers, Book K A, p. 34.

4. Mrs. Lloyd in Mengo Notes, April, 1901, p. 47.

5. S. Fataki and A. Lukayi, 1967.

*Editor’s Note: Likely typo in date.

This biography, written by Louise Pirouet, was included in “Appendix A: Biographical Notes,” on pages 389-90 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]