At Uganda Martyrs’ Day Celebration, Catholic Bishops Urge Prayers for End to Violence

In the message read by UEC Chairman, Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa, the Catholic Bishops say, “There are still many people who are detained in places, known and unknown.”

“In the name of praying and working for peace, please release the political detainees or charge them in the proper courts of law,” the Bishops say, and continue, “We cannot talk of peace when other people are still languishing.”

Addressing the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic, the members of UEC thank God “who has kept us alive during all this difficult time, and we pray that He continues to keep us safe so that we can worship him in bigger numbers than what we have today.”

“We pray with the Uganda martyrs to help us overcome this pandemic,” they implore.

Also known as the feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs’ Day is a national holiday in Uganda.

It commemorates the 22 Catholics killed alongside their 23 Anglican counterparts on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, then King of the Buganda Kingdom between 1885 and 1887.

On June 3, Catholics also commemorate two Ugandan martyrs of a later period, who died at Paimol in Uganda’s Lira Diocese in October 1918.

On this day every year, pilgrims from across the Eastern Africa region and beyond gather at Namugongo Shrine in the Archdiocese of Kampala for the conclusion of the multi-activity event.

Similar to last year, the leadership of the UEC allowed a limited number of pilgrims this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In his homily, Bishop Silverus Jjumba of Uganda’s Masaka Diocese, who presided over Eucharistic celebration regretted the absence of the faithful during the 2021 event.

“This year, we assemble under exceptional circumstances. A slim number of the faithful are here physically. The multitudes are at home in virtual attendance. Not that they wished to stay away and watch television or listen to radios or indeed switch on social media platforms. No, it is because the Covid-19 pandemic has dictated and forced us into this terrible situation,” Bishop Jjumba said.

He continued, “We look like the dismembered body of Christ. We are scattered, but it would not be right to say we are in disarray.”

He described the pilgrimage this year as “lukewarm” and urged the faithful to accept the sober celebrations as the will of God.

“Let us embrace this opportunity as guidance from the Holy Spirit that we should all spiritually internalize the example set for us by the Uganda Martyrs, that is, their deep faith, deep charity and of loving God to the point of shedding blood,” Bishop Jjumba said.

He added, “It is the same God calling us in these two years (of Covid-19) to move away from the ordinary merry-making, the pomp and ululations with which many of us celebrate June 3 – the day of commemorating the Uganda Martyrs.”

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Making reference to the violence following the January 2021 presidential election, which resulted in the loss of 50 human lives, Bishop Jjumba urged Ugandans to “internalize the legacy of forgiveness bequeathed to them by the Martyrs.”

 He called on Ugandans to “reconcile, respect divergent views and embrace justice.”

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kampala celebrated Martyrs Day without the late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

Archbishop Kizito Lwanga passed away on April 3 after suffering a heart attack and was laid to rest at Rubanga Cathedral in Kampala.

“Let this sadness, lukewarm-ness, this kind of emptiness reassert itself into a vibrancy for the crucified Lord. In this apparent mood of desolation, let us grow fresh vigour for our faith just as scripture says, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces much fruit,” Bishop Jjumba said.