Joseph Mukasa

The Missionaries of Africa came to Uganda in 1879. Balikuddembe was enrolled as a catechumen in the following year and along with Andrew Kaggwa, was baptized by Père Simon Lourdel M.Afr. (Fr. Mapeera) on 30 April 1882. Balikuddembe took the baptismal name of "Joseph".

From November 1882 to July 1885 the Catholic missionaries, for reasons of security, abandoned the Ugandan mission and re-located temporarily to the southern end of Lake Victoria. In the absence of the missionaries, Balikuddembe was elected as the leader of the Christians.

As catechumens, the recent converts could no longer engage in activities which they saw as unchristian. Mwanga saw this as insubordination.

As Mwanga's senior adviser, Balikuddembe spoke against the killing of the bishop. Mwanga viewed this a disrespectful. After a night-long interview the king condemned Balikuddembe to death. Muwonge says that the Katikkiro Musaka saw to it that the order was carried out before the king could change his mind.

His family Balikuddembe's father was Matia Mulumba from Jinja and his mother was a Mutoro.