Hoima Diocese to lead 2017 Uganda Martyrs celebrations

HOIMA Catholic Diocese has been chosen to lead the forthcoming Uganda Martyrs day celebrations held on June 3 of every year at Namugongo.

The annual event commemorates the heroic 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs, who were killed for their faith at the hands of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.

Of the 45, 22 were professing Catholicism while the rest Protestantism.

The 22 Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. They were declared saints on October 18, 1964 by Pope Paul VI.

According to the chairman of the organizing committee, Dr Emmanuel Kizza Aliba, diocesan bishop, Vincent Kirabo has appointed nine organizing committees at Diocesan level to spearhead the June 3 celebration which will be held at Namugongo martyrs' shrine.


Dr. Aliba, the Executive Secretary of the Justice and Peace Department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference told the media that the committees have been allocated tasks that include liturgy, security, ushering, finance and publicity.

The others are tasked with research, documentation, pilgrims, transport, accommodation, catering, welfare, health, decoration, general cleaning and sanitation.

According to Aliba, Bishop Kirabo appointed the Vicar General, Msgr. Matthias Nyakatura, to oversee all the nine committees and the pastoral coordinator, Fr. Robert Mugisa to be the chief coordinator.

Bishop Vincent Kirabo appointed nine organizing committees at Diocesan level to spearhead the June 3 celebration

"It is not the first time, our diocese has hosted the Martyrs Day, we led the celebrations of the 2001 and; I am optimistic that with that experience, we shall handle the coming occasion better," Aliba said.

Aliba said that they made a budgetary estimation of at least sh500m as the total cost of the June 3, 2017 celebrations.

"We decided that all the work of fundraising should be carried out in all the three vicariates of the diocese, which include Hoima, Kibale and Masindi," he explained.

He was also optimistic that with 800,000 Catholics in the whole diocese, they would be able to raise the money if every faithful contribute only shs1000.

"We are proud that two of the 22 Catholic Martyrs, St. Andrew Kaggwa and St. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo hailed from Hoima Diocese," Aliba proudly said.

Hoima Diocese is located in the town of Hoima in the Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara Archdiocese. It was established by the Missionaries of Africa better known as the White Fathers on August 9, 1965 after having been curved off Fort Portal Diocese and Lubaga now Kampala Archdiocese.

The diocese that started with only seven Parishes currently has a total of 41. Its first African-Ugandan bishop was Bishop Cyprian Kihangire, who later became the first African Bishop of Gulu.

Bishop Albert Edward Baharagate succeeded Kihangire having been appointed on October 5, 1969.

Bishop Kihangire retired on March 9, 1991 and Bishop Deogratias Muganwa Byabazaire succeeded Baharagate serving as bishop until his death on February 8, 2014.

On November 30, 2015, Vincent Kirabo was appointed Bishop of Hoima, to succeed the late Byabazaire.

Hoima Diocese comprises four districts of Bunyoro namely Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale and Buliisa.