President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed that annual government funding for the event be institutionalized as a permanent line item in the national budget. Starting this year, UGX 4.2 billion will be allocated annually to support the religious denominations that organize and host the commemorative ceremonies.
Speaking during the 140th commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs at the Namugongo Anglican Shrine on Tuesday, June 3, President Museveni revealed that this year’s allocation included UGX 2 billion each for the Catholic and Anglican Churches, and UGX 200 million for the Muslim community.
“This year, the Government gave the Catholics Shs2 billion, the Protestants Shs2 billion, and the Muslims Shs200 million, for this occasion,” said President Museveni. “I have directed that this becomes a permanent provision in our national budget, because Uganda Martyrs Day is a unifying event that draws participation from across the country.”
The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause from thousands of faithful who had gathered to mark the historic day. The Uganda Martyrs — a group of 45 young Christian converts (22 Catholic and 23 Anglican) — were executed between 1885 and 1887 under the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II for their refusal to renounce their faith. Their martyrdom is now commemorated annually on June 3, drawing pilgrims from across Africa and beyond.
President Museveni praised the Martyrs’ courage and conviction, saying their sacrifice represents the ultimate defense of freedom of worship.
“It was a mistake for Kabaka Mwanga to try to suppress this new belief in the supernatural. These young boys — and girls, I am told — were willing to lay down their lives so others could freely worship,” the President said.
He emphasized that religion should remain separate from politics, quoting the Bible to reinforce his message. “We advise all Ugandans not to mix political allegiance with religious affiliation. Politics governs our life on Earth; religion prepares us for life after death,” he said, referencing Mark 12:17: “Give unto God what is God’s and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.”
At the Catholic Shrine, Vice President Jessica Alupo represented the President and called on Ugandans of all faiths to rally behind President Museveni in the upcoming elections.
“Next year, as we gather again to remember the Martyrs, it is expected that all Ugandans — regardless of faith — will show their support for a leader who upholds religious freedom and unity,” Alupo said.
In his homily, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere stressed the importance of political tolerance and servant leadership. “We must build a Uganda where political disagreements do not breed hatred. True leadership is about service, not power,” he said. “The wounds of the Martyrs speak louder than our words ever could.”
Former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rt. Rev. Dr. Henry Luke Orombi, used his address to warn against moral decay and the erosion of spiritual values in national decision-making.
“Today, people spill blood with no remorse. Without God at the center of our national life, Uganda risks losing its moral compass,” Orombi cautioned. He hailed the Martyrs’ faith under fire: “They worshipped amid flames — as though fire had no power.”
The celebrations, which drew tens of thousands of pilgrims to Namugongo, served as a powerful reminder of Uganda’s diverse religious landscape. President Museveni also recounted his own wartime experiences living among religiously mixed communities.
“In the 1981 war, we lived with Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims, and traditionalists. We were united by the pursuit of knowledge,” he said. “Bullets kill, but prayers help — and no reed can stop a bullet,” he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Despite the high turnout, some vendors outside the Catholic shrine voiced frustration over poor business. They claimed they had paid fees ranging from UGX 100,000 to UGX 300,000 for stalls but saw little customer interest.
The Uganda Martyrs remain a powerful symbol of courage, conviction, and spiritual devotion. Executed for defying royal orders to abandon their Christian faith, they have since become a unifying emblem for Ugandans of all religions. Their legacy lives on through annual pilgrimages, national prayers, and now, a guaranteed place in the country’s fiscal plans.
You can find President Museveni’s Full speech at Uganda Martyrs Celebration 2025 here
