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There was excitement at the Namugongo Anglican Martyrs site in Wakiso district on Thursday, May 23, 2024, as over 4000 children fulfilled their dream pilgrimage.

They arrived at the site at 7:00am. Before they were led to the church, they toured around the site.

Some chorused the old church songs, thanking God for the life of the Uganda martyrs, who they said died for Christianity to prevail.

Gordon Ssentoogo, 10, who trekked from Luzira to the site said: “I have learnt that I have to be doing only the right things so that I can secure myself a place in heaven as the martyrs did.”

On her part, Alice Kisakye, 12, from Nateete told New Vision that she was surprised that there were women among the Ugandan martyrs.

“Until today, all along, I thought there were only men. However, I now know that there were women martyrs too,” she said, adding that the pilgrimage has also provided her with an opportunity to make friends.

The children’s pilgrimage is one of the activities that are conducted by the Church of Uganda prior to the June 3 main celebration at the site.

At the Protestant Namugongo site, Anglicans celebrate the life of 23 men and women who were killed on orders of Kabaka Mwanga II of the Buganda kingdom for espousing Christianity.

Some of the children in prayer during their pilgrimage to Namugongo Anglican martyrs shrine. Thousands of children from different dioceses celebrated the Uganda martyrs day at the shirine in Kampala on May 23, 2024. Photo by Lawrence Mulondo

This year’s celebrations at the Anglican site will be animated by the Rwenzori dioceses (East Rwenzori, South Rwenzori, West Rwenzori and Bunyoro Kitara), among others.

The children between the ages of eight and 14 that converged at Namugongo Anglican site yesterday were drawn from the dioceses of Madi West Nile, Masindi Kitara, Rwenzori, Busoga diocese, Bukedi, Namirembe, and Kigezi.

The coordinator of children and youth programs in the province of the church of Uganda, Rev. Richard Rukundo, explained that the reason they created a special pilgrimage for children on May 23 every year is to enable them to understand the story of martyrs.

During the June 3 celebrations, Rukundo said, many children miss out. Those who grace the event, he added, are blocked by adults from following closely the events, given the huge number of pilgrims that flock to the site.

“Just like the martyrs, children can decide to always stand by the truth and reject bad vices like taking drugs, misuse of the internet and child-to-child sex, among other vices, and grow up as responsible citizens,” he said.

The children's pilgrimage day, Rukundo said, also provides them with an opportunity to stand out and learn about the walk for Christ.

Imitating the martyrs

The retired bishop of Mukono diocese, Rt Rev. James William Ssebaggala, who represented the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, said the pilgrimage enables children to learn about the life of Uganda martyrs and harnesses their courage to stick to Christianity.

 “Like the Martyrs, children need to grow strong in their faith that even when they grow, they should never deny being part of it even when they reach the point of death,” Ssebaggala said.

He also decried what he described as the rising “moral decay” in society.  

“God’s way is that when he gives one a child, one ought to take care of this gift so that he or she grows up well for the glory of God,” he said.

The day’s keynote speaker, Peninah Byarugaba, urged children to be careful about people who offer them free money.

Byarugaba added that some people “unfairly and unlawfully want to make money by targeting children.”

The vice of pornography is the other habit Byarugaba said children must avoid. Some children told Byarugaba that they accessed pornography from their parents’ phone galleries. Others cited uncontrolled television channels and social media.

The event was spiced with praises and worship, storytelling, bible study and open-door games, among other activities that kept children busy.