Muslim leaders seek recognition for Uganda’s 70 forgotten martyrs

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As Christians across Uganda observed Martyrs' Day on June 3, 2026, Muslim leaders from Teso and Karamoja called on the government to also recognise and honour more than 70 Muslim martyrs who lost their lives between 1875 and 1876 during the reign of Kabaka Muteesa I.

Martyrs' Day in Uganda is observed annually on June 3, commemorating the martyrdom of 45 Christian converts, comprising 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans, who were executed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II of the Buganda Kingdom.

Sheikh Abubakar Umar Obilan, the regional assistant to the mufti for the northeastern Muslim region at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, said the over 70 Muslim martyrs were among the first Ugandans to sacrifice their lives for their faith. He emphasised that their contribution forms an important part of Uganda's religious heritage.

He explained that the Muslim martyrs were early converts to Islam, having embraced the faith after it was introduced to the Buganda kingdom by Arab and Swahili traders around 1844.

According to Obilan, some Muslim pages and chiefs at the Kabaka's court were accused of political disloyalty in 1875 and were subsequently executed or burned at the Namugongo site.

According to the assistant mufti, subsequent executions, which some historical accounts place in 1877, occurred after converts refused to eat meat slaughtered by uncircumcised royal cooks and defied the Kabaka's ban on circumcision.

Historical records from scholars such as Prof. J. M. Kasule indicate that many were executed for refusing to renounce Islam. Although their names may not be as widely documented as those of the 1886 Christian martyrs, their sacrifice played a significant role in the growth of Islam in Buganda.

Sheikh Obilan said recognising this shared history is important for education, healing and national understanding.

He advocated for the inclusion of all martyrs in Uganda's national narrative and called for collaboration with scholars to accurately document the relevant historical sites and individuals in order to provide a fuller understanding of the country's past.

The assistant mufti said the Muslim and Christian martyrs of the late nineteenth century demonstrate that both Islam and Christianity in Uganda were established through sacrifice.

Obilan said it is not the responsibility of Christians and Muslims to seek revenge but rather to live out the values of their faiths in ways that honour the memories of the martyrs and contribute to building a better Uganda.

He encouraged Ugandans to embrace the lessons left by the martyrs, particularly trustworthiness, wisdom and national unity.

“Today, we are called to choose integrity over corruption, to practice Islam with wisdom, and to respect our diverse backgrounds in our communities and workplaces. Remembering our Muslim martyrs serves as a reminder of our shared values as Ugandans who cherish truth and promote peaceful coexistence,” he stated.

Why they were killed

The assistant mufti said the period was marked by complex political, cultural and religious changes. Kabaka Muteesa I was navigating pressure from Arab Muslims, European Christians and traditional Buganda institutions.

He explained that the Muslim pages were perceived as a political threat because of their association with Arab traders and their refusal to participate in certain royal rituals.

According to Obilan, they were killed not only because of their beliefs but also because of questions surrounding loyalty and authority.

He said this mirrored aspects of the persecution of the Christian martyrs of 1886, where faith came into conflict with political power.

How this differs from the Christian Martyrs

Sheikh Obilan said the historical contexts differed, but the principle remained the same: conviction unto death.

He noted that the events of 1886 occurred during the reign of Kabaka Mwanga II and are well documented, with a shrine established at Namugongo.

The events of 1875 and 1876 took place during the reign of Kabaka Muteesa I and are less documented, though equally significant, he said.

According to Obilan, both the Muslim and Christian martyrs demonstrate that Ugandans have long been willing to die for their beliefs.

“This is our shared history of Iman (faith) and courage. Uganda is great because of martyrs of all faiths.”