The annual Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo will this year be observed under strict public health measures, with the Catholic and Anglican churches adopting different approaches following the suspension of the national celebrations due to the Ebola outbreak. At the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, limited numbers of faithful will be allowed to attend Masses, while at the Anglican Martyrs’ Site, attendance will be restricted to only 200 guests.
Rev. Fr. Vincent Lubega, the Parish Priest and Rector of the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Namugongo, said on Tuesday that the arrangements were guided by directives issued by the Kampala Archdiocese and the Uganda Episcopal Conference in response to the Ebola outbreak.
The government recently called off the large-scale national Martyrs Day celebrations, which traditionally attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across Uganda and beyond. Fr. Lubega explained that on June 3, the shrine will maintain its normal Mass schedule at the Minor Basilica, with Eucharistic celebrations at 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. Additional Masses will also be held at the shrine’s sub-parishes.
Unlike previous years, however, there will be no Mass at Martyrs’ Lake. All liturgical celebrations will take place at the Minor Basilica, where attendance will be capped at about 500 worshippers per Mass, roughly half the church’s capacity, to allow for physical distancing.
The shrine administration has installed handwashing facilities and temperature screening points at all entrances, while sanitation of the premises will be conducted after every Mass. Fr. Lubega said the measures are intended to enable the faithful to observe the feast while safeguarding public health.
“We are continuing with our religious activities, but in a manner that protects the faithful and complies with the health guidelines that have been issued,” he said. The Catholic Church has also encouraged believers across the country to mark the feast in their local parishes rather than travelling to Namugongo.
June 3 holds special significance in the Catholic Church in Uganda. In addition to Sundays, Catholics are required to attend Mass on designated Holy Days of Obligation. While the Universal Church recognises several such days, the Uganda Episcopal Conference designated June 3, the Feast of the Uganda Martyrs, as a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics in the country.
Meanwhile, the Anglican Martyrs’ Site will operate under even stricter controls. According to Rev. Canon Michael Wasswa Ssentamu Mwesigye, the Archdeacon of Namugongo, only 200 guests will be permitted to attend the main service.
Rev. Canon Ssentamu, who also serves as Rector of the Uganda Martyrs Seminary Namugongo, said access to the site will be strictly by invitation and that members of the public who are not on the guest list will not be admitted.
He urged Anglicans and other Christians who are not invited to follow the celebrations through television, radio, and online platforms. The service and related events will be broadcast live to enable participation from home.
Unlike the Catholic shrine, which will accommodate local worshippers in limited numbers, the Anglican Church has advised its faithful to avoid physical attendance altogether and instead participate virtually.
Preparations at the Anglican site have nevertheless continued. The venue has undergone significant refurbishment, including improvements to buildings, walkways, and surrounding infrastructure. The upgrades have enhanced the appearance and functionality of the site ahead of this year’s commemoration, despite the heavily restricted attendance.
This year’s Uganda Martyrs Day will therefore be marked without the massive pilgrimages that have become synonymous with June 3, as churches seek to balance the spiritual significance of the feast with measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
