Martyrs Day: 700 Namugongo-bound foot pilgrims from Kasese to set off on May 20

KASESE - A group of 700 foot pilgrims from Kasese Catholic Diocese will embark on a 379-kilometre journey to Namugongo on May 20 ahead of the Uganda Martyrs Day celebration.

The diocese was appointed by the Uganda Episcopal Conference to lead the June 3 annual event that commemorates the martyrdom of 45 young Christian converts between 1885 and 1887 by the orders of the then king of Buganda, Mwanga.

The pilgrims will be from all the 13 parishes in Kasese Diocese, two pastoral centres and St Michael Divine Mercy Shrine Kabuyiri.

This year's theme is: “Christ is alive in you and me", draw from the biblical book of Galatians 2:19.

Rev. Fr. John Baptist Kule, who is chairing the diocesan organising committee, said the pilgrims will set off after receiving blessings from the diocesan bishop, Francis Aquirinus Kibira.

The large group is expected to reach Namugongo on May 31, in time for the commemorations.

The national steering committee convened a meeting at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo on Thursday, with members of the different sub-committees, including security and laity, present.

Fr Lule said there will be 75 pilgrims walking from neighbouring DR Congo.

The expectation is that along the way, more pilgrims from other parishes and dioceses will be joining the main group from Kasese en route to Namugongo.

In charge of Liturgy (choirs), Fr Dr Vincent Muhindo (Rector of Kinyamaska Natinal Sseminary) chats with the Shrine Rector of Namugongo, Fr Vincent Lubega after the meeting at Namugongo on May 7, 2026. (Credit: Juliet Anna Lukwago)

The organising committee thanked the government and the Uganda Episcopal Conference for financially supporting their preparations. 

Fr Vincent Muhindo, the chairman of the Liturgy Committee, said Bishop Kibira will be at Kyaliwajjala to welcome the foot pilgrims on May 31. Other pilgrims from Kasese will arrive in 30 buses.

A three-day crusade from May 31 until June 2 will be held at Namugongo.

“Those days will be for confessions and preaching in different languages," said Muhindo.

A choir of 500 members will animate the Catholic celebrations on June 3. 

Just like in past years, students are also expected to attend the commemorations. Fr Kule said a choir of 350 students will animate their special day on May 30.

Organisers said the Catholic shrine at Namugongo will open for pilgrims starting May 24.

Millions of local and foreign pilgrims are expected at both the Catholic shrine and the Anglican site at Nakiyanja for the annual celebrations.

ACP Christopher Barugahare said security agencies will deploy sufficiently to ensure all goes without incident.

“Kasese is a border area of Congo, and all of you know what is there. We have to make sure that the security is extremely tight and pilgrims do their journeys safely and securely," he told the meeting. 

"We want all the foot pilgrims to be accredited by the authorities in their parishes and dioceses. Our people [security personnel] will be at all their stopovers.”

People whose health is not good have been advised not to embark on foot pilgrimages.