Uganda Martyrs Day is held every year on 3 June and is a public holiday in Uganda. It honours 45 young Christian converts, 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican, who were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka (King) Mwanga II of Buganda, many of them burned at Namugongo, about 15 km from central Kampala. Each year it draws one of the largest religious gatherings in Africa, with pilgrims walking for days or weeks from across Uganda and neighbouring countries. If you want to attend, arrive at least a day early, expect huge crowds and heavy traffic, and book Kampala accommodation months ahead.
Martyrs Day at a glance
| Date | 3 June every year (public holiday in Uganda) |
|---|---|
| Main venue | Namugongo, Wakiso District, about 15 km north-east of central Kampala |
| Commemorates | 45 Christian martyrs (22 Catholic, 23 Anglican), killed 1885–1887 |
| Shrines | The Catholic Uganda Martyrs Basilica and the Anglican Uganda Martyrs Shrine, a short distance apart |
| Crowds | Very large; attendance is often reported in the millions |
| Best for visitors | Arrive the day before; stay in Kampala or nearby; use a local guide or driver |
The story of the Uganda Martyrs
In the late 19th century, Buganda, the largest of the kingdoms in what is now Uganda, was ruled by the Kabaka from his capital on the hills around today's Kampala. Arab traders had brought Islam, and from 1877 Anglican missionaries and from 1879 Catholic missionaries arrived at the royal court. Many young pages at the court converted to Christianity.
When Kabaka Mwanga II came to the throne in 1884, he grew suspicious of the new faiths and the outside powers he associated with them, and angry that his Christian pages put their new loyalties before his commands. In 1885 the Anglican bishop James Hannington was killed on his way to Buganda, and in the same period Christian converts began to be executed. The persecution peaked in 1886. On 3 June 1886, a large group of converts, including the Catholic leader Charles Lwanga, was burned alive at Namugongo, then an execution site outside the capital. Others were killed at different places over these years. Among them was Kizito, one of the youngest, a boy in his early teens.
The courage of the martyrs, who are remembered for refusing to renounce their faith, became central to the growth of Christianity in Uganda and across East Africa.
Canonisation and papal visits
- 1920: the 22 Catholic martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV.
- 18 October 1964: Pope Paul VI canonised them as saints, St Charles Lwanga and companions, among the first saints from sub-Saharan Africa to be canonised in modern times. The Anglican Church of Uganda honours its martyrs too, and the two traditions commemorate them together in spirit on 3 June.
- 1969: Pope Paul VI visited Namugongo, on the first papal visit to Africa.
- Later visits: Pope John Paul II (1993) and Pope Francis (2015) also came to Namugongo.
The Namugongo shrines
The Catholic Uganda Martyrs Basilica stands on the site associated with the martyrdom of Charles Lwanga. Its striking design echoes the shape of a traditional Kiganda hut, supported by 22 pillars, one for each Catholic martyr. Beside it is an artificial lake, a focus for pilgrims, and an outdoor amphitheatre where the main Martyrs Day mass is held.
The Anglican Uganda Martyrs Shrine, a short distance away, marks the place of execution and includes a museum and memorials telling the story of the Anglican martyrs, with sculptures depicting the events of 1886.
Elsewhere around Kampala, the Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine on the shore of Lake Victoria marks the place where, according to tradition, Mwanga ordered the persecution to begin. Our Kampala travel guide includes Namugongo among the city's main sights.
The pilgrimage
Martyrs Day is one of the largest annual religious gatherings in Africa. In the weeks before 3 June, groups of pilgrims set off on foot from across Uganda and from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Malawi and beyond, some walking for weeks, carrying flags, singing and praying along the main roads. They camp at and around Namugongo in the days before the celebrations. Many visitors say the atmosphere on the approach roads is as moving as the day itself.
What happens on 3 June
- Catholic celebrations: the main mass at the Basilica's amphitheatre, led by bishops, often with senior church and government figures. Each year a different diocese organises ("animates") the celebrations.
- Anglican celebrations: a service at the Anglican shrine, also attended by very large crowds.
- Throughout the day: prayer, music, collecting holy water from the lake, and huge numbers of people moving between the sites.
- Security: heavy security and road closures around Namugongo, with screening at entrances.
How to attend as a visitor
Visitors of any faith are welcome, and respectful travellers are made to feel at home. To make the day work:
- Arrive the day before. Roads around Namugongo are gridlocked on the morning of 3 June, and many pilgrims spend the night at the site.
- Go with a local guide or driver who knows the access points and road closures.
- Be ready for a long, hot day on your feet in big crowds: comfortable shoes, a hat, water, snacks and sun protection.
- Carry the minimum: a copy of your passport, a little cash and your phone. Leave valuables at your hotel.
- Dress modestly, as for any place of worship.
- Agree a meeting point with your group in case you are separated, as phone networks can be overloaded.
Accommodation in Kampala and near Namugongo fills up well before the event, so book early. For entry requirements, see visa requirements and the East Africa Tourist Visa; for general safety, our East Africa safety guide.
Visiting Namugongo on other days
If you prefer a quiet visit, Namugongo is open throughout the year, and a weekday visit lets you see both shrines, the museum and the Basilica in peace. It makes an easy half-day from Kampala, or a stop on the way to or from Jinja and the source of the Nile, which lie along the same road east.
Combining Martyrs Day with a Uganda safari
Early June is a good time for a Uganda safari: the long rains are ending and the main dry season, from June to September, begins. That makes a Martyrs Day visit easy to combine with gorilla trekking and the national parks:
- Before 3 June: arrive in Entebbe, spend a day on Entebbe and Lake Victoria excursions, then Namugongo.
- After 3 June: head west to Kibale for chimps, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi for gorillas.
June is busy for gorilla permits, so book them early; see best time to visit Uganda and our Uganda safari packages. Interested in other events in the region? Rwanda's gorilla naming ceremony is covered in our Kwita Izina guide.
Practical tips
- Expect very heavy traffic in and around Kampala for several days around 3 June.
- Carry small Ugandan shilling notes for food, water and transport.
- Try local food from the many stalls around the site; our East African food guide explains what to look for, including the famous Ugandan rolex.
- Learn a few greetings in Luganda; our phrases guide includes a short Luganda section.
- Take photos respectfully, especially during prayers and mass.