Martyrs' Day is commemorated every year on June 3, in remembrance of the young Christian converts who refused to denounce their newly found religion between 1885 and 1887 to the annoyance of the then Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda. He ordered that they are burnt to death.
For the second time this year, the event will be celebrated virtually with a limited number of guests as the country maintains restrictions on public gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the Anglican Shrine, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda the Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kazimba Mugalu was the day's main celebrant, assisted by the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira. The Archbishop of Kampala Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga led the Mass at the Catholic Shrine.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Steven Kaziimba Mugalu has invited only 40 people to attend the annual prayers. The revelation was made by the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira during an on-site visit to the shrine, early today.
The CoU commemorates 23 martyrs while the Catholic has 22 who converted to Christianity in Buganda Kingdom and later executed between 31st January 1885 and 27th January 1887. They were killed on orders of then Kabaka Mwanga II.
