The Church of Uganda (COU) has announced that this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at the Uganda Martyrs Anglican Site in Namugongo will be conducted under strict public health measures, with attendance limited to 200 invited guests as authorities seek to reduce the risk of disease transmission amid Ebola concerns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement issued Tuesday through his X (formerly Twitter) account, Church of Uganda Communications Officer and Personal Secretary to the Archbishop Sadiiki Adams outlined key arrangements for the June 3 commemoration.
“Church of Uganda will hold scientific celebrations at Uganda Martyrs Anglican Site, Namugongo,” Adams said, adding that “only 200 people will attend the service” and that attendance will be strictly by invitation.
He said the service will begin at 9am and end at 11am.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev Stephen Kaziimba, will be the main celebrant, supported by a limited number of bishops and clergy.
Adams added that dioceses across the country will hold Martyrs Day celebrations at parish level to allow Christians to participate locally rather than travel to Namugongo.
He said the service will be broadcast live by several media houses and confirmed that some government officials have been invited.
According to Adams, standard operating procedures from the Ministry of Health will be strictly observed, including handwashing stations, sanitizers and social distancing measures.
He also noted that Uganda Christian University is organizing this year’s celebrations and will oversee preparations for next year’s event. The university chaplaincy has developed a special liturgy to guide commemorations across the province.
The announcement follows President Yoweri Museveni’s earlier directive postponing mass pilgrimages after consultations with health experts and religious leaders, citing Ebola risks linked to cross-border movement from eastern DRC.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed multiple Ebola cases in Uganda, with officials maintaining surveillance, contact tracing and isolation measures.
The Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, held annually on June 3 at Namugongo, traditionally attract millions of pilgrims from across East and Central Africa. The event commemorates the 45 Christian converts executed between 1885 and 1887 under Kabaka Mwanga II for refusing to renounce their faith.
Held at both Anglican and Catholic shrines, the pilgrimage is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, drawing worshippers from countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the DRC.
However, authorities have repeatedly warned that large cross-border movement from Ebola-affected regions in eastern DRC presents a heightened public health risk due to the virus’s high transmissibility in crowded environments.
Uganda has previously contained Ebola outbreaks through surveillance, contact tracing and public awareness campaigns, but officials say continued vigilance is necessary due to the country’s porous borders and frequent population movement.
