Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa

The work of the two young men is intimately linked to the Kitgum mission, founded in 1915 by the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (a congregation founded by Saint Daniel Comboni). At the beginning of 1917, Antonio, the catechist responsible for the locality of Paimol (located about 80 kilometers from Kitgum), passed away. Daudi Okelo then presented himself to Father Cesare Gambaretto to offer to replace him. His official appointment came at the end of 1917, and the young Jildo Irwa was assigned to him as an assistant. Before their departure, Father Gambaretto warned them of the serious difficulties and dangers of their mission: the distance from Kitgum, the political tensions, and the local conflicts stirred up by bands of looters, slave traders, and gold and ivory traffickers. Faced with these warnings, Daudi replied: "I am not afraid to die. Jesus also died for us!". In November-December 1917, with the blessing of the mission superior, Daudi and Jildo settled in Paimol, accompanied by Boniface, the head catechist of Kitgum. They stayed with the local vice-chief, Ogal, who offered them hospitality. In Paimol, Daudi immediately began his work of religious instruction. Each morning, at dawn, he beat the drum to gather the catechumens for morning prayer. He taught them prayers and the catechism, and regularly visited the surrounding villages. Jildo, thanks to his joyful temperament and gentleness, excelled at gathering the children, instructing them, and entertaining them with traditional games. He also helped the vice-chief Ogal as an occasional secretary. The two young men took care to remain totally neutral in the political and tribal quarrels of the region, dedicating themselves exclusively to the proclamation of the Gospel.

The year 1918 was marked by strong tensions in Uganda. The British colonial authorities imposed forced labor, which provoked sharp reactions from the population. Furthermore, Muslim raiders and local witch doctors, seeing Christianity as a threat to their influence and affairs, sought to eradicate the new religion. During the weekend of October 18 to 20, 1918 (the precise date of the martyrdom is generally set at October 18), five armed men burst into the village of Paimol and headed toward the hut of the two catechists with the intention of killing them. A village elder tried to intervene to protect his guests, but Daudi intervened and asked him not to put himself in danger. The assailants entered the hut and demanded that Daudi stop teaching the catechism. Faced with his categorical refusal, they dragged him outside, threw him to the ground, and pierced him with spear thrusts. Daudi died a martyr at the age of approximately 16. The murderers then turned to Jildo and urged him to abandon his mission and leave the area. In tears, Jildo refused and declared: "We have done no harm to anyone. We are only here because Father Cesare sent us to teach the word of God. Let us not be afraid." He added to the executioners: "For the same reason that you killed Daudi, you must also kill me, for we came here together and together we taught the word of God." One of the men grabbed him, pushed him out of the hut, and pierced him with a spear thrust, before striking him with a knife to the head. Jildo died at the age of approximately 12. Their bodies were left on the spot. However, the local inhabitants quickly began to venerate the place of their death, which they named "Wi-Polo" (which means "in Heaven"). In 1927, Father Antonio Vignato, founder of the Kitgum mission, collected their sacred remains to place them in the church of Kitgum, at the foot of the Sacred Heart altar.

The cause for the beatification of Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa was officially opened in the Archdiocese of Gulu. The diocesan inquiry began on January 16, 1998, and concluded on October 14, 1998.

On April 23, 2002, Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree officially recognizing their martyrdom in hatred of the faith (in odium fidei), which dispensed with the requirement of a miracle for their beatification.

They were solemnly beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002, on the occasion of World Mission Sunday, in Saint Peter's Square in Rome. During his homily, the Holy Father emphasized: "These two courageous witnesses were still children when, with simplicity and faith, they shed their blood for Christ and for his Church. [...] They are given to the entire Christian community as examples of holiness and virtue, and as models and intercessors for catechists throughout the world."

Their liturgical memorial is set for September 18 in the Roman Martyrology.

The spirituality of Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa is based on a simple, joyful faith and absolute fidelity. Despite their young age and recent conversion, they fully grasped the greatness of their vocation as catechists. Their courage in the face of death testifies to a deep union with the suffering Christ. Their legacy is immense for the Church in Uganda and Africa. By agreeing to leave their own ethnic clan to go and evangelize a troubled region, they became pioneers of the unity and catholicity of the Church, transcending tribal divisions. Today, the site of their martyrdom at Wi-Polo (Paimol) has become a sanctuary and a major place of pilgrimage in northern Uganda, attracting thousands of faithful each year, particularly on October 20, the anniversary of their beatification. They are venerated as the patrons of African catechists and remain inspiring models of missionary commitment for the youth.