Every 3rd of June, Namugongo becomes a beehive of activity as Christians converge to celebrate the martyrdom of a group of young Ugandans who were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga the King of Buganda at the time. Tororo Diocese was chosen to take the lead of the annual event in 2018, 20 years since they last organized the same in 1998. The Diocese begun its preparations ahead of the event that attracts millions of local and international pilgrims.

“The Archi-Diocese is organizing these celebrations on behalf of Tororo Ecclesiastical Province and in collaboration with Uganda Physical pun-Conference, the government of Uganda and various stakeholders.” Led by Archi-Bishop Emmanuel Obbo, Christians trenched in prayer at the Ecclesiast Ian headquarters in Nyangole. “They have asked to do that. That they come and walk symbolically as though they were going to Namugongo already since the Church’s Cathedral is of Uganda Martyrs.”

Archi-Bishop Obbo said the Diocese had started fundraising drives to raise 720 million shillings required to organize the Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo. “We want to make sure that the 2018 celebrations are equally colorful and spiritually enriching.”