By Jumah Kakomo
The Namugongo Martyrs’ Church of Uganda has unveiled plans to construct a new church building with a seating capacity of 3,000 worshippers, along with other modern facilities, to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims and faithful who visit the shrine annually.
Rev. Canon Michael Waswa Ssentamu, the Archdeacon of Namugongo Archdeaconry, said the planned construction is part of wider efforts to further develop the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, one of Uganda’s most significant religious sites. He noted that the shrine is already undergoing redevelopment and that design plans for the proposed archdeaconry church are expected to be implemented within the next three years.
Rev. Canon Ssentamu called upon all stakeholders to contribute ideas and support toward the project to ensure its smooth and successful implementation.
Speaking during a Sunday sermon themed “Celebrating the Feast of Harvest by Giving the First Fruits,” led by the Baganda community, Rev. Dr. Andrew Nalumenya, the Mission Coordinator at Namugongo Archdeaconry, urged believers to appreciate God’s blessings by giving back and sharing with others in accordance with God’s will before asking for more.
The Head of Planning at the archdeaconry level, Moses Kiwanuka Sebyala, revealed that the project is estimated to cost UGX 6 billion. He explained that the new church will significantly increase the shrine’s capacity to host pilgrims and strengthen its role as a major spiritual centre in Uganda. He added that the proposed church will be constructed at Pine Gardens.
Meanwhile, Ivan Mwanda, the youth leader of the Baganda Community Youth at Namugongo Archdeaconry–Uganda Martyrs’ Church of Uganda, appealed to young people to actively support the construction of the new church. He emphasized the importance of unity and collective effort, noting that youth participation will be vital to the successful development of the shrine.
Namugongo Archdeaconry is a newly established administrative unit within the Church of Uganda’s Namirembe Diocese. It was inaugurated in October 2024 to better serve the growing number of parishes around the historic Uganda Martyrs Anglican Shrine in Namugongo, with Ven. Canon Michael Waswa Ssentamu installed as its first Archdeacon. The creation of the archdeaconry aims to decentralize church services and bring spiritual leadership closer to surrounding communities, including Rosary, GAD, and neighboring parishes.
