Catholics begin nine-day Uganda Martyrs novena

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As Christians prepare to celebrate Uganda Martyrs Day on June 3 in their parishes and dioceses due to the Ebola outbreak in the country, the Martyrs’ Novena prayers for Catholics begin today, Monday, May 25.

A novena is a nine-day period of private or public prayer to obtain special graces, implore special favours, or make special petitions. The word novena is derived from the Latin novem, meaning nine. As the definition suggests, the novena has always carried a sense of urgency and need.

This year, Kasese Diocese had been selected by the Uganda Episcopal Conference to lead the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations for 2026, but the event was postponed due to the Ebola outbreak. The celebrations are usually organised on a rotational basis according to the four ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Church.

According to the parish priest of Namugongo, Fr Vincent Lubega, the prayers will run until June 2, 2026, ahead of the Martyrs Day celebrations that will be held at Namugongo Parish and across all 19 Catholic dioceses.

He said that prayers at the shrine will be recited daily through different saints. “All Christians are requested to recite the Novena in their Parishes and Dioceses.”

The June 3 celebrations commemorate the heroic faith of the 24 Catholic Martyrs and 23 Anglican Martyrs who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then King of Buganda, between 1885 and 1887.

Twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV, and on October 18, 1964, Pope Paul VI canonised them as saints.

In addition to the Catholic Martyrs, there are two catechists from Paimol, Blessed Daudi Okello and Gildo Irwa, who were killed in 1918. The two catechists were beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20, 2002.

At Munyonyo

Meanwhile, the Parish Priest of Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine, Fr Ulman Male, said the novena prayers will begin daily at 5:00 pm and each day will feature a specific topic focusing on different martyrs.

“Every day will have talks about two martyrs. On the first day on Monday, prayers will be recited through St Mbaaga-Tuzinde, Gyaviira and Adolf Ludigo (emulating the Martyrs in our families), while other days will follow with talks about other Martyrs.”

Fr Male encouraged Catholic faithful to observe the novena through prayer and to invoke the Uganda Martyrs to intercede for them.

“Since the big gathering was postponed by the Government and the Catholic Episcopal Conference advised us to celebrate in our parishes, we will celebrate our Parish Day,” Fr Male said.