Kasese Catholic Diocese starts fundraising for Uganda Martyrs Day 2026 preparations

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

Kasese Diocese has been chosen by the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) to lead the forthcoming Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations that are held on June 3 of every year at Namugongo.

The host diocese hunted for sh4.5b to facilitate preparations for this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine due to be held on June 3, 2026, at Namugongo shrine.

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

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

The Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara Archdiocese consists of four suffragan dioceses: Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Kasese and Mbarara Archdiocese itself.

The annual event commemorates the heroic 45 Catholics (22) and Anglican martyrs (23), who were killed by burning and beheading for their faith at the hands of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.  Of the total number, 22 were professing Catholicism while the rest Protestantism.

The twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV. They were declared saints on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI.

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

Chairman

According to the Diocese chairperson of the organising committee, Fr John Baptist Kule, revealed this during the National organising committee meeting at Catholic Secretariat Nsambya on Thursday, Kasese, last organised Martyrs day celebrations in 2005 and revealed that sh4.5b is needed in preparations.

The National preparation meeting was attended by various people, including the Secretariat General of the Episcopal conference, Msgr, John Baptist Kauta, several priests from Kasese, heads of committees and others.

The Diocese chairperson of the organising committee, Fr John Baptist Kule (right), chats with Secretariat General of the Episcopal conference, Msgr John Baptist Kauta (Left) after the National preparation meeting Catholic Secretariat Nsambya on Thursday. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

Fr Kule urged Christians to support the preparation, 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 said that the budget that needs a total of sh4.5b will be spent for preparations of Uganda Martyrs Day, including pastoral and liturgical preparations, public address system, renovation of the place, electricity, transport, banners, decoration, catering, pilgrims’ accommodation, medical, protocol, publicity welfare, water and sanitation and among others. “We have created 16 sub-committees, so far we have a little money as organisers, but are looking for assistance from the well-wishers.”

He added that the funds will also support pilgrim mobilisation and coordination efforts both within and outside the diocese.

“This big sum of money is not to be spent on one day alone. The committees listed above have a big budget to cover what must be put in place before June 3, 2026, including erecting tents, temporary sanitation facilities in addition to those in the venue.

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 for Kasese Diocese, comes back to animate the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo after 20 years, last led the annual event in 2005.

The diocese will animate under the theme “Christ is alive in you and me.”

Fr Kule explained that the fundraising campaign ran through parish-level, special collections, pledges from institutions, and outreach to corporate partners. And the diocesan has organised a committee to oversee the mobilisation and ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds.

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

Fr Kule said that the fundraising campaign started from the parish-level drives, special collections, pledges from institutions, and outreach to corporate partners. A diocesan organising committee has been constituted to oversee the mobilisation and ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds so far as a diocese has raised 1.2% of the budget of sh4.5bn.

Bishop

However, recently, on the launch of the fundraising at the Diocese headquarters, the ordinary bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira urged Christians, well-wishers, development partners, and the business community to support what he described as a historic and spiritually significant occasion for the diocese.

Bishop Kibira emphasised that animating the celebration at Namugongo is not only about leading the liturgy, but also about showcasing the unity, faith and cultural identity of the people of Kasese. He requested parishes, institutions and individuals within the diocese to contribute generously towards the noble cause.

He added that “We invite all Christians and friends of the Diocese of Kasese to stand with us in prayer and financial support as we prepare to lead the nation in honouring the Uganda Martyrs.”

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, which separated it from the Fort Portal Diocese. It covers the entire Kasese District with a population of over 724,726 people, it comprises 15 parishes, including the 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.