The Police had declared this year’s Martyrs’ Day celebrations as the most successful staging of the annual event in recent years.

Catholics and Anglican believers gather every June 3 to remember the 45 converts who were killed between 1887-1888 by Kabaka Mwanga after they refused to denounce their faith.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga noted that over three million pilgrims including those from other countries like the United States and Brazil, as well as those from Europe and African countries, were effectively secured during the event.

“From a security standpoint, the Martyrs Day celebrations were a resounding success. Our special thanks go to the President of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for the massive support and contribution, to the organisers of this year’s celebrations,” he said.

Enanga said the leadership of the joint security agencies applauds all security personnel and stakeholders who in their areas of responsibility enabled a very peaceful, safe and secure celebrations in Namugongo, Nakiyanja and at Mamre Prayer Centre.

He noted that the celebrations passed without any major incidents or threats, despite the large turn up.

While addressing journalists at the weekly joint security briefing at the Police headquarters in Naguru on Monday, June 5, he noted that from May 28 to June 4, only 199 cases were registered.

“Of those few incidents, the main one was the theft of phones (130), theft in general (62), and other offences (7), which led to 148 arrests (male 137, females 3, and male juveniles 8),” he noted.

Enanga said some lost and found properties including phones, national IDs, bibles, and clothes were recovered, and others handed over.

He said arrangements were in place to have the 22 pilgrims still stranded at the Catholic site to be transported to their places of origin.

“We do greatly thank the organisers at the Catholic, Anglican, Mamre Prayer Centre, and the Muslim sites,” he noted.

He also commended the leadership of Kiira Division, the local community in Namugongo and surrounding areas, the LCs, and friends of the Police like Sheikh Umaru Yusuf Sekagya, who gave security space at Munawala Mosque.

According to the traffic report delivered by Rogers Nsereko, the Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Police commander, five lives were lost while 23 people were seriously injured due to road accidents.

These accidents happened from May 27 to June 1, at the Jinja-Kamuli roundabout, Kampala-Masaka highway, Kyaliwajala-Namugongo road near the Catholic Shrine, and in Nakasongola on Bombo road.