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The Catholic Church has started celebrations to mark the 60^th anniversary of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs. The 22 Catholic converts were killed on the orders of King Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.

The majority of them were killed together with the Protestant converts (on account of their Christian faith) at Namugongo (in Wakiso district) on June 3, 1886. The martyrs were beatified (declared blessed) by Pope Benedict XV on June 6, 1920. Saint Pope Paul VI finally canonised them (proclaimed them saints) in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome on October 18, 1964.

Sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church is a very significant status. Catholics firmly and truly deem saints to be holy and in heaven with God. They believe in their intercessory powers and for that matter, they pray to God through them.

A declaration to sainthood is a consequence of a long process that involves deep research and examination of the life, religious devotion, Christian examples and intercessory powers of the person that the local Church requests the Pope to canonise. The firm belief in the holiness and miraculous powers of saints explains why Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Namugongo is a place of massive pilgrimage which attracts millions of Christian pilgrims (both local and international) on June 3.

Fr. Richard Nnyombi (fore-front) and other Catholic priests venerating the relics of St. Matia Mulumba and Saint Karooli Lwanga at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic parish-church, Mitala-Maria, in Mpigi district on February 1, 2024. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

This year (2024) marks exactly 60 years since the Uganda Martyrs were canonised. Catholic Church leaders have thus declared it as the year of the diamond jubilee of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs. For that matter, they have organised year-long activities that will climax with a grand celebration at Uganda Martyrs Minor Basilica, Munyonyo on November 15, 2024.

According to Fr. Richard Nnyombi (a senior confrere of the Catholic Missionary Society of the White Fathers who introduced the Catholic faith in Uganda), all the activities are aimed at re-re-popularising the Uganda Martyrs and re-awakening their devotion among the local Christians.

One of the most significant preparatory activities of the diamond jubilee year is the visitation of the relics of Saint Karooli Lwanga and Saint Matia Mulumba to all the affiliate parishes and selected institutions (such as hospitals, schools/universities, and religious houses) of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala. The visitation will be affected by vicariate arrangement.

The parishes in Mitala-Maria Vicariate have been the first to host the relics. The relics were delivered to the headquarters of the vicariate at Mitala-Maria (off the Kampala-Masaka Road, in Mpigi district) by Fr. Richard Nnyombi, who handed them over to the vicariate’s Episcopal Vicar, the Very Rev. The function took place on February 1, 2024. Fr. Francis Xavier Kikomeko.

There were scenes of excitement and jubilation as Fr. Nnyombi, accompanied by some members of the Uganda Martyrs Diamond Jubilee Committee arrived with the relics at the junction to Mitala-Maria Catholic parish church, from where the 4-km solemn procession through Mitala-Maria village to the church started.

The solemn mass at the church was presided over by Fr. Kikomeko, who after highlighting the significance of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs and the presence of their relics in the church, asked the Christians to be strengthened, motivated and inspired by their deep faith and heroic Christian examples.

Rev. Fr Dr Joseph Mary Ssebunnya (an expert in the history of the Uganda Martyrs) asked the Christians to emulate the good life and Christian examples of the Uganda Martyrs. He also urged them to seek the intercession of the martyrs, who he said could help them to prevail over their respective weaknesses and also achieve their aspirations. He later encouraged them to name their children after the Uganda Martyrs.

Rev. Fr Richard Nnyombi urged the Christians to pray for the beatification and eventual canonisation of the pioneer Catholic missionaries, Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Delmas Amans brought the faith and even baptised some of the martyrs.

Nnyombi later clarified that the grand diamond jubilee of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs will be celebrated at Munyonyo on November 15 (2024) because the day coincides with the martyrdom of Yozefu Mukasa Balikuddembe (the proto-martyr) which occurred at Nakivubo on November 15, 1885.

Nnyombi said the celebration will involve the participation of all the affiliate dioceses of Kampala Ecclesiastical Province namely Kampala Archdiocese, Masaka Diocese, Lugazi Diocese, Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese and Kasana-Luweero Diocese.

He said the jubilee will also be celebrated during the Uganda Martyrs Day national pilgrimage at Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Namugongo on June 3. The pilgrimage is being organised by the Nebbi Diocese. Nnyombi also said the church is considering another celebration on October 18, the date on which the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs took place.

After the mass at Mitala-Maria Catholic Church, the Christians were given the opportunity to venerate the relics of the martyrs. From Mitala-Maria Vicariate, the relics will be taken to the Vicariates of Wakiso, Entebbe and Kampala, respectively.

The martyrs’ diamond jubilee activities are running under the theme: We the baptised, let us journey together in communion, participation and mission in the footsteps of the Uganda Martyrs.