By Kabuye Ronald
President Yoweri Museveni has postponed this year’s Martyrs’ Day celebrations due to growing concerns over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region.
In a statement addressed to Ugandans, especially the “Bazzukulu,” Museveni said the decision followed consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders.
“After consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders, we have decided to postpone Martyrs’ Day to a later date, which will be communicated,” he said.
The President explained that Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims each year from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where an Ebola outbreak is currently affecting several communities, making large religious gatherings a significant public health risk.
“This decision was made because Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak. To safeguard lives, it is essential that this important event be postponed,” Museveni added.
He urged pilgrims who had already begun travelling to return home and continue observing preventive measures, including reporting suspected cases and encouraging those who fall ill to seek medical attention.
“We regret any inconvenience caused, but the protection of life must come first,” the President noted.
The postponement comes amid heightened vigilance by health authorities following confirmation of a new Ebola outbreak in Uganda linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain. The Ministry of Health confirmed the outbreak in mid-May after a posthumous test in Kampala returned positive.
On Friday evening, Museveni revealed that he had chaired a meeting of the national epidemics task force at Nakasero State Lodge to assess the situation.
“This evening, I met the task force on epidemics in Nakasero. We discussed the Ebola situation in the region, and we will communicate the way forward. There is no cause for alarm,” the President posted on X.
Health officials have since intensified surveillance, contact tracing, and cross-border screening efforts as authorities work to contain the spread of the disease.
Observed annually on June 3 at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Martyrs’ Day attracts millions of pilgrims from Uganda and across the region, making it one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.
