By Hannah Marion Namukasa
In a defining moment of spiritual and national significance, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has formally declared that Uganda Martyrs Day will now be enshrined in the national budget with an annual allocation of UGX 4.2 billion an unprecedented move signaling state endorsement of religious commemoration as a unifying cultural pillar.
Speaking to a sea of pilgrims gathered at the Namugongo Anglican Shrine during the 140th anniversary of the Uganda Martyrs’ execution, Museveni unveiled the landmark funding plan. The 2025 allocation includes UGX 2 billion each for the Catholic and Anglican Churches and UGX 200 million for the Muslim community, all earmarked to support the organization of the Martyrs Day commemorations.
“This year, the Government gave the Catholics shs 2 billion, the Protestants sh2 billion, and the Moslems sh200 million, for this occasion. I have directed the Government to make this contribution part of the national budget annually since many Ugandans participate,” Museveni announced, drawing a standing ovation from the multifaith congregation.
Museveni’s announcement was framed in the context of national heritage and religious resilience. The President praised the Uganda Martyrs 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts executed between 1885 and 1887 under Kabaka Mwanga II for their “defiant courage in defense of spiritual truth.”
“It was wrong for Mwanga to want to kill this new perspective about the supernatural realm. These young boys, and even some girls, chose death over betrayal. That spirit of sacrifice defines the Ugandan soul,” he said.
In characteristic philosophical cadence, Museveni also cautioned against religious divisions infiltrating political life, urging Ugandans to uphold spiritual discipline while maintaining a secular political consciousness.
“Give unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” he cited from Mark 12:17. “Our constant advice to Ugandans is never to mix politics with denominational loyalties.”
In a rare personal reflection, the President recalled his own experiences during the 1981 liberation struggle, where faiths intersected under a banner of national liberation. Living among Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims, and traditionalists, he emphasized knowledge as the binding force.
“Most Christians and Moslems still believed in the traditional religion. We united all of them around the knowledge of science,” he said. “A bullet kills, prayers help but a reed can’t stop bullets,” he joked, lightening the solemn tone and prompting laughter from the crowd.
Elsewhere at Namugongo, Vice President Jessica Alupo, representing the President at the Catholic Shrine, used the platform to rally support ahead of the upcoming 2026 general elections.
“Next year, as we return to commemorate the Martyrs, it will be expected that Christians, Muslims, and all Ugandans will have shown that support at the polls,” she stated, subtly endorsing Museveni’s anticipated sixth-term candidacy.
Catholic Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, delivering a stirring homily, called for servant leadership rooted in humility and respect, warning against power-hungry politics.
“We need a Uganda where political competition doesn’t translate into enmity,” he urged. “The Martyrs’ wounds speak louder than words.”
Former Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi of the Church of Uganda decried growing violence and societal moral decay, warning of spiritual vacuum in policymaking.
“Today, people spill blood and feel nothing. If God is removed from national decisions, Uganda will lose its moral compass,” Orombi said. “The Martyrs worshipped in the fire, as if flames had no power.”
Despite an overwhelming turnout of over a million pilgrims from across Uganda and East Africa, not all participants found reason to celebrate. Local vendors at the Catholic site expressed disappointment over low sales despite paying up to UGX 300,000 for stalls.
“We expected big business, but the buyers just didn’t come,” lamented Grace Namutebi, a souvenir seller from Mukono.
The Uganda Martyrs: A Brief Legacy
Between 1885 and 1887, 45 young men 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans were executed for refusing to renounce their Christian faith under the rule of Kabaka Mwanga II. Their canonization and veneration have since turned Uganda into a global pilgrimage destination, symbolizing unwavering faith, unity across denominations, and resistance against oppression.
With the government now officially institutionalizing financial support for Uganda Martyrs Day, Museveni has fused national identity with faith-based celebration perhaps a political masterstroke, but undeniably a nod to the resilient spirituality that continues to shape Uganda’s destiny.
