The men were officials and the boys were pages at the court of King Mwanga, and were put to death because, led by the older martyrs, they refused to take part in the homosexual orgies of the king.
The stamps depict the following:
(L.15): St. Denis Sebuggwawo, St. Mugagga, St. John Mary Muzeyi, St. Joseph Mukasa, protomartyr (beheaded), St. James Buzaballowo, St. Ambrose Kibuka, St. Achilles Kiwanuka.
(L.20): St. Mbaga Tuzinde, St. Charles Lwanga, St. Kizito.
(L.30): St. Mathias Kalemba Mulumba (limbs amputated and bled to death), St. Noah Mawagelli (used for target practice), St. Luke Banabakintu.
(L.75): St. Gonzaga Gonza, St. Athenasius Bazzekukette, St. Fonttan Ngondwe (pierced by lances), St. Bruno Serunkuma.
(L.100): St. Anatole Kiriggwajjo, St. Andrew Reggae (beheaded), St. Adolph Mukasa.
(L.160) St. Mukasa. Kiriwawanvu, St. Gayavire.
The martyrdoms extended from 1885-7. Most of the pages were burned to death in a huge fire on June 3, 1886, Ascension Thursday.
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