Namugongo Martyrs Shrine Re-Opens its Gates to Pilgrims – Uganda

Namugongo Martyrs shrine re-opens its gates to pilgrims once again after 2 years of closure due to the outbreak of covid-19. A pilgrimage typically means a journey of spiritual importance with the hope of meeting God.  Every year, thousands of pilgrims in Uganda and across the world flock to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine to commemorate the 45 martyrs.

The 2022 celebrations will be conducted on 3^rd June where 45 Martyrs will be remembered – both Anglicans and Catholics. The 45 Martyrs lost their lives to orders of King Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887 for refusal to denounce their faith.

3^rd June in Uganda’s calendar is a Public Holiday dedicated to commemorating the lives of 45 martyrs. A huge number of pilgrims are expected to gather at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine to make the day colorful and a range of activities will be conducted including praising and worshipping.

The liturgical celebrations of Martyrs Day often take turns and as of 2022, the Fort Portal Diocese will lead the 3^rd June Martyrs celebrations in Namugongo shrine. Over 2000 pilgrims from Fort Portal already arrived at the shrine early this week. By 1^st June, over 30,000 pilgrims from different parts of the country and other parts of the world had already reported at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.

The 2022 liturgy will be presided by the bishop of the host diocese (Fort Portal Diocese). Fort Portal is a beautiful town and also a tourist city, found in the Western side of Uganda, 5 hour drive from Uganda.

The Martyrs Day celebration presents a great opportunity for the host diocese -Fort Portal diocese to showcase their faith, dress, culture, language as well as church music to the country. It was in 1997 when the Fort Portal diocese last hosted the Namugongo Martyrs celebrations and the event used to attract fewer pilgrims.

As years went on, the Martyrs celebration became popular and large numbers gathered at Namugongo 2022 celebrations are expected to attract over 2 million pilgrims.

History of Ugandan Martyrs’ Day

Foreign missionaries were looked at by King Mwanga as the greatest threat to his kingdom and power base since 1884. They were expelled and converts threatened to renounce their new faith or face execution.

23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity were executed by King Mwanga between January 31^st, 1885, and January 27^th, 1887. 32 young men were burnt to death on June 3^rd, 1886 at Namugongo because they refused to renounce Christianity. These included Anglican and Catholic converts.

The actions of King Mwanga resulted into a British-backed revolution and in 1888, he was overthrown. He negotiated with the British and in exchange for handing over some of his sovereignty to the British East Africa Company, and he was reinstated in 1889. In 1897, he was deposed and while in exile, he was converted to an Anglican.

In 1920, the 22 Catholic Martyrs were beatified and in 1964, they were canonized as Saints of the universal church. In 2015, Pope Francis also visited Namugongo and he celebrated a Holy Mass, but prior to the Mass, he paid homage to the Anglican Martyrs at the Anglican Shrine.