Uganda Martyrs’ Day which is held every year at the Namugongo Shrine on 3 June

The Uganda Martyrs are a group of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda, who were executed between November 1885 and January 1887.

They were killed on orders of Mwanga II, the Kabaka (King) of Buganda. The deaths took place at a time when there was a three-way religious struggle for political influence at the Buganda royal court.

A few years later, the English Church Missionary Society used the deaths to enlist wider public support for the British acquisition of Uganda for the Empire. The Catholic Church beatified the martyrs of its faith in 1920 and canonized them in 1964.

More than 2 500 pilgrims from different corners of Africa have confirmed participation at the Uganda Martyrs’ Day which is held every year at the Namugongo Shrine on 3 June.

Christians from countries such as Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo DR and Malawi are among the pilgrims who have confirmed participation.  Tanzania has around 2 000 people registered to take part in this year’s pilgrimage to Namugongo.  Tanzania’s Diocese of Shinyanga alone has 1 100 people who are heading to Uganda for the Martyrs’ Day celebrations.