Govt gives Kasese Catholic Diocese sh2b for Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations

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The Government of Uganda has given sh2 billion to support this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at the Catholic Shrine in Namugongo.

This comes after Kasese Catholic Diocese, the host of the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations 2026, started fundraising to raise sh4.5b for preparations.

The celebrations are usually organised on a rotational basis according to the four ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Church.

Kasese Catholic Diocese was chosen by the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) to lead the forthcoming Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, which are held on June 3 every year at Namugongo.

The Episcopal Conference, at its sitting through the Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara Archdiocese, selected Kasese Catholic Diocese to animate Uganda Martyrs Day 2026 under the theme “Christ is alive in you and me”.

Some of the committee members in the National steering organising committee at Catholic Secretariat Nsambya on Thursday April 10, 2026. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

The support from the Government was officially revealed at the national steering organising committee meeting at the Catholic Secretariat in Nsambya on April 16, 2026.

Kasese last organised Martyrs Day celebrations in 2005.

This follows a directive by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that Martyrs Day funding be included in the national budget annually. In 2025, the government allocated sh2b each to the Catholic and Protestant communities, as well as some funding to the Muslim community to support their respective commemorations.

The national preparation meeting was attended by several leaders, including the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr John Baptist Kauta, priests from Kasese, including the diocesan chairperson of the organising committee, Fr John Baptist Kule, committee members, police officers and the head of laity in Uganda, Gervase Ndyanabo, among others.

The annual event commemorates 45 martyrs, including 22 Catholics and 23 Anglican martyrs, who were killed by burning and beheading for their faith at the hands of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.

The twenty-two Catholic martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV and canonised on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI.

Apart from the traditional 22, Christians also commemorate the martyrdom of the blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, catechists in northern Uganda who were killed at Paimol in 1915.

Fr Kule said the diocese is still looking for a balance of sh2.5b to meet the total budget of sh4.5b, “the mobilisation started from the Diocese, now we ask the well-wishers, individuals, institutions, companies, within the diocese and outside to support us.”

Kule urged Christians to support the preparations, saying, “Let us not look at this budget as a burden. I clearly know people have many responsibilities at different levels, but this function will come with blessings for the entire community of Kasese and our families.”

He added that “We thank the Government and others who so far gave us a hand in this preparation, now we are looking for the balance to see that we organise well.”

He noted that the total budget of sh4.5b will cover preparations for Uganda Martyrs Day, including pastoral and liturgical arrangements, public address systems, renovation, electricity, transport, banners, decoration, catering, pilgrims’ accommodation, medical services, protocol, publicity, welfare, water and sanitation, among others.

“We have created 16 sub-committees, so far we have some little money as organisers, but are looking for assistance from the well-wishers.”

Fr Kule added that Kasese Diocese is among the 19 dioceses in Uganda and was created in June 1989, carved from Fort Portal Diocese. This year’s animation of the national Martyrs Day celebrations marks a significant milestone, as the diocese returns to lead the event at Namugongo after 20 years, having last organised it in 2005.

“In an effort to raise the balance, we are appealing to all God-loving, good-willed and generous people to give us a hand in raising this balance for preparing the International Pilgrimage and actual celebration of the Uganda Martyrs Day at Namugongo,” Fr Kule told the New Vision.

“The account Number is 3100117442 in the names of Kasese Diocese Namugongo Pilgrimage 2026, in Centenary Bank.

Fr Kule said the fundraising campaign has started with parish-level drives, special collections, pledges from institutions and outreach to corporate partners. A diocesan organising committee has been constituted to oversee mobilisation. “So far, the preparations are moving well.”

Foot pilgrims

Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Barugahare urged foot pilgrims to undergo health checks before beginning their journey.

He requested that “if their health is not in good condition, to avoid foot pilgrimage.”

He said, “Police all over the country will be on duty to streamline the movement of pilgrims (pedestrians) in every corner of the country. We request that before starting moving register with your dioceses, parishes and churches where they came from.”

He added that pilgrims should ensure they know the people they are travelling with and that team leaders follow their groups. “We police are already for the function and also to escort all pilgrims from one station to another until they reach Namugongo,” he said.

Police officials also advised churches to register pilgrims before they begin their journey.

Officials in charge of the pilgrims committee said foot pilgrims will set off on May 20 and are expected to arrive at Namugongo on May 31.

Health committee

Officials in charge of the health committee said pilgrims with health conditions should carry medical kits to assist doctors in managing their conditions.

Dr Rogers Mugisha said 138 medical workers will be deployed at the Catholic Martyrs Shrine Namugongo to attend to pilgrims. “Medical team will accompany the foot pilgrims from Kasese with ambulances.”

About Kasese Diocese

The Diocese of Kasese is a Roman Catholic diocese in western Uganda, established on April 1, 1989, by Pope John Paul II after being carved out of Fort Portal Diocese.

It covers the entire Kasese district with a population of over 724,726 people and comprises 15 parishes, including Kasese Cathedral Parish, Nsenyi, Kasanga, Katwe, Kyalhumba, Hima, Ibanda, Bukangara, Kakone and Kitswamba.

Located in western Uganda, it is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Mbarara Diocese to the south and Fort Portal Diocese to the east. The area is a multi-ethnic region with residents including the Bakonzo, Basongora, Banyabindi and Batooro.