The Uganda Martyrs day is one of the most celebrated religious events throughout the world. The origin of this special day dates back in the late 19th century when Christian missionaries from both Catholic and Anglican groups came to Buganda to spread Christianity. In the year of 1879, they set up missions from where they taught the new converts the new religious doctrines and how to read or write. The then King of Buganda, Kabaka Muteesa had earlier welcomed the missionaries with hopes that they would help fortify his kingdom by supplying him with guns and gun powder to fight his enemies. But as time 
went by, his hopes were shuttered as the missionaries were instead busy with religious activities and not aligning to his agenda. this infuriated Kabaka Muteesa but he was able to control his anger.
Later Kabaka Muteesa died and he was replaced by his son Mwanga. When Mwanga became King, Christianity had spread widely throughout the kingdom and many people had started abandoning their traditional beliefs and customs. Kabaka Mwanga who was young and ill prepared for the leadership roles started to rule with an iron hand. He killed and burnt a total of 3 missionaries who included an Anglican Bishop James Hannington in the year of 1885. One of his advisors Joseph Balikuddembe Mukasa who was also a new convert and the leader of the Christian pages at the King’s palace confronted the king about his killings of the missionaries but this did not go well for him as the king became furious and sentenced him to death by beheading. Joesph Balikuddembe Mukasa became the first black Martyr recorded.
The king thought that because he had killed a few people, the other new converts would change their minds but the numbers of converts kept increasing. He then threatened to kill all those who would refuse to renounce Christianity as he considered it a possible threat to his rule. The Uganda Martyrs chose to defend their faith regardless of the outcome. The king sentenced them all to death and they were bound in slave yokes to their feet and necks as they marched to Namugongo. Namugongo village was used as an execution ground for all those who disobeyed the king. The Martyrs were burnt to death on the 3rd of June 1886 in the Namugongo holocaust. You can also read about the Catholic Martyrs Shrine in Munyonyo.
The Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations and Pilgrimages in June
After some years, many Christians started seeking for the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs. Many also started visiting the various locations where the martyred were killed. This prompted a Dutch Roman Catholic priest who was based at the Nsambya mission to mobilize some Christians to walk with him to Namugongo in honor of the Martyrs. This walk is known as the Martyrs’ death match to Namugongo. On arrival, he celebrated holy mass and planted a cross at the spot where Charles Lwanga was killed. This marked the very beginning of the annual pilgrimage to Namugongo.
The June 3rd Martyrs day celebration is also the feast day of St. Charles Lwanga and companions. It is celebrated annually around the world and the day was declared a public holiday in Uganda. The event attracts millions of pilgrims from within the geographical boundaries of the country, the East African community and other parts of the world. The event starts a month earlier with some pilgrims walking thousands of kilometers to Namugongo in honor of the Uganda Martyrs. Some walk from as far as Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. Also major Roman Catholic novena prayers are arranged from all the locations where the martyrs were killed starting from 25th May to 2nd June. It should be noted that the 
death match of the Uganda Martyrs also started on the 25th of May 1886 until the 2nd of June 1886. People use this time of the novena not only to prepare for the main Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations but also to seek guidance and solutions to their life’s major challenges. In 1964, St. Charles Lwanga and the other martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul VI and then a beautiful cathedral (commonly referred to as the Uganda Martyrs Shrine) was constructed in 1975 in their honor.
Millions of pilgrims come to the shrine annually to commemorate the Uganda Martyrs day. Each year, a diocese is chosen to lead and animate the celebration. The chosen Catholic diocese leads the main 
prayers, performs liturgical dances/performances and provides the main Singers for worship. Dignitaries from all over the world are invited to attend and give speeches if time permits. You will find everybody around the Shrine having fun and merrymaking even though some of the people are not Christians. The Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations provide a good season for the business community as vendors can be seen selling traditional foods, drinks and other general merchandise. In conclusion, the Martyrs day in Uganda is such an important day for Christians as they spend the day reflecting on their lives and Christian beliefs.
