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Uganda Martyrs Celebrations Reminder of Lamp Lit to Drive Away “darkness” of Social Ills: Catholic Bishops

Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Kampala, 07 June, 2025 / 10:12 pm (ACI Africa).

Uganda Martyrs’ Day Celebrations, marked annually on June 3, should be a reminder to keep the lamp that the Martyrs lit burning to drive away the “darkness” of social ills in the society, Catholic Bishops in Uganda have said.

In his speech for this year’s Martyrs’ Day pilgrimage at the Namugongo Shrine, the President of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) referred to the Bishops’  March 2025 Pastoral Letter in which they decried social ills in the country including moral decay and corruption.

“Whenever we celebrate the Uganda Martyrs day, we are reminded to keep the lamp lit by the Martyrs burning brightly in a world surrounded by darkness,” Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa said in his speech published in the booklet for the event held on Tuesday, June 3.

Bishop Zziwa added in the speech for the celebration that the Catholic Diocese of Lugazi animated, “Part of the darkness which needs to be dispelled has been proclaimed in our recent Pastoral Letter entitled, ‘The Truth Will Set You Free.’”

In the pastoral letter, the Bishops decried moral decay in the East African nation, which they said is manifested in homicide that has extended to foetuses and the newly born babies.

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“We watch and read almost daily in the media, shocking stories of murders, some of which have happened due to domestic violence, perpetrated by one spouse against the other,” UEC members lamented. 

The Bishops were particularly concerned that “this violent mentality has extended to the unborn and newly born, thousands of whom have been denied the opportunity to live due to abortion, neglect, and abandonment.”

The Catholic Church leaders also enlisted the unjust accumulation of wealth, jealousy, sectarianism, and corruption among other factors leading to moral decay in the country.

In his June 3 speech, Bishop Zziwa said that in the letter, “the Catholic Bishops of Uganda, called for social justice, peace and national unity, respect for human dignity and life in all forms, equality and love of neighbour, preservation of mother earth, among others.”

“The call to Christianity is a call to all to evangelize (rejecting sinful ways) and to dedicate one's life for the Gospel and its proclamation even unto death,” he said and added in reference to the Gospel of St. Matthew, “Carry your cross and follow me”.

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He explained further, “The Martyrs had to make choices, and best of which was to follow Jesus thereby renouncing evil ways. They were burnt to death, fulfilling what St. John teaches “unless a seed falls and dies...” (Jn 12:24).”

“Pilgrims of hope let us return home shining with the values which are truly Christian like the Uganda Martyrs. It is by our fruits that we are known,” the Local Ordinary of Uganda’s Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese said.

The Uganda Martyrs’ Day dates back to the first decade of Christian presence in the East African nation when 45 men aged between 14 to 50 years were killed because of their faith by the King of Buganda between 31 January 1885 and 27 January 1887.

Among the 45 were 22 Catholics beatified in 1920 and canonized in 1964, who continue to promote Catholic life in the country and also play an important role in constructing a Catholic identity globally.

The annual celebration is held at Namugongo shrine, one of the popular sites on the Northeast edge of the Kampala Metropolitan See that hosts a modernist basilica church whose altar is above the place where the martyrs' pyre is believed to have been.

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In his June 3 speech, the UEC president also highlighted the impact of the Uganda Martyrs to the growth of the Christian faith in the country, saying, “We are mindful of what Tertullian said, ‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity’”.

“The glorious death of the Uganda Martyrs has affected the growth of the Church in our country,” Bishop Zziwa said, and added, “The Christian faith in Uganda has spread like fire in a burning bush since the arrival of the first Catholic missionaries in 1879.”

The Martyrs, he said, “laid the foundation of Christianity in this country. In return, our people responded generously to Jesus’ call ‘come and follow me’. Some of the early converts are the Martyrs whose memory we celebrate today.”

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.