Uganda must embrace Martyrs’ unity before 2026 polls — Kazimba

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The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rev. Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, has called on Ugandans to embrace and practise the peace and unity exemplified by the Uganda Martyrs, especially as the country approaches the 2026 elections.

Kazimba, who was addressing a press conference at the Anglican Shrine on Sunday, explained that during their journey of faith, both Anglican and Catholic martyrs stood united until their execution.

He urged Ugandans to emulate this spirit of unity during the upcoming political season.

“There is no reason why one should fight the other. Let us be Ugandans, let us be Christians, and learn to love one another even as we go into politics. There is no reason for fighting, let us make a resolution and be united like the people we are remembering 140 years ago,” Kazimba said.

He further advised Christians to take inspiration from the sacrifices of the Uganda Martyrs to renew, recommit, and revive their faith in order to grow together as children of God.

Kazimba visited the shrine to assess the readiness of the premises, which will host pilgrims from across the country, who will converge at both the Catholic and Anglican shrines to commemorate the Uganda Martyrs.

According to Kazimba, this year’s celebrations will be held under the theme “Imitating God’s goodness by doing good”, derived from Galatians 6:9. He also announced that the main preacher will be Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi.

Genesis of the name Namugongo

During the press conference, Kazimba explained the origin of the name Namugongo and its significance in relation to the Uganda Martyrs.

“This place is called Namugongo because these men were dragged on their backs from Munyonyo up to the Anglican shrine, which was the execution ground,” he explained.

“In Luganda, the back is called ‘omugongo’, and people were wondering how these men could reach this place from Munyonyo, given the fact that almost all their bones had been crushed. And the message spread quickly that they would reach using their back, translated as ‘Batuuse Wano Namugongo’,” Kazimba said.

He urged the media to help educate the public about the origin of the name Namugongo, to distinguish the church from Nakiyanja, the name of a river located beyond the shrine.

As the country celebrates the 45 martyrs—12 Catholics and 13 Anglicans executed at the Anglican Shrine, with others killed in different locations—he called for deeper reflection on their legacy 140 years on.

At the same press conference, the chairperson of the organising committee from the Northern Uganda Cluster—this year’s lead for the celebrations at the Anglican Shrine—Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, assured the Archbishop that preparations were in the final stages ahead of the event.