Christians have been exhorted to live a life of renewed faith and commitment to God after the example of the Uganda Martyrs. This call was made by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, bishop of Kabale Diocese while presiding over Mass in Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral to celebrate Uganda Martyrs Day on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Bishop Rubaramira urged believers to strengthen their relationship with God and remain steadfast in faith amid life’s challenges. “I call upon all Christians to renew their faith and return to God. In times of challenges and uncertainty, we should always seek God and strengthen our spiritual lives,” Bishop Rubaramira said.
The Bishop also noted that the Martyrs of Uganda continue to inspire Christians through their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering belief in God, and urged the faithful to use the days’ celebrations as a moment of reflection and spiritual renewal.
Every Uganda Martyrs Day (June 3), the Catholic Bishops of Uganda gather at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine for the celebrations together as a country. However, due to the outbreak of Ebola this year, bishops celebrated the day from their respective Dioceses.
Bishop Rubaramira also used the opportunity to implore the Christians to strictly observe the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Church and government to help combat the spread of Ebola. “As we gather to worship, I urge all Christians to follow the SOPs put in place by the Church to prevent the spread of Ebola because protection of life is our shared responsibility,” he emphasized.
SOPs observed in places of worship include avoidance of handshake, washing of hands with soap, regular sanitization and maintain a social distance. The Bishop noted that faith and adherence to health guidelines should go hand in hand in order to safeguard communities during the Ebola outbreak. “We pray for God’s protection, but we must also remain careful and responsible by following the guidance given to us,” Bishop Rubaramira said.
While delivering the homily during Mass, Rev. Fr. Austen Christmas, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral Parish called on Christians to embrace spiritual humility and live according to God’s teachings, saying true strength begins with acknowledging one’s dependence on God.
He noted that many people put other things first other than God, looking at being great in terms of wealth, power and authority, but forget God. He advised that people should use whatever they have to serve God and be drawn closer to him.
Fr. Austen noted that Christians ought to learn from the Martyrs how to love and remain close to Christ. The power of Christ should overcome our weaknesses and we become victorious in Jesus our redeemer, as St. Paul tells the Romans how he was sure that nothing should separate us from the love of Christ that dwells in us (Romans 8:31-39).
Uganda Martyrs Day iss important in the life of the Ugandans because Martyrs were Ugandans, but also important feast in the Catholic Church because the martyrs were Catholics – Fr. Austen Christmans.
The 22 catholic Martyrs became courageous and died for their faith. We thank God for the gift of Martyrs. They embraced the faith from the missionaries (Mapeera and brother Amans). Like the Ugandan Martyrs, we should be proud of our faith and give up our life for it. They were ordered to abandon Christ but refused and hinged on him. When they were threatened, they remained steadfast because they understood that something greater is in Christ than anywhere.
The martyrs sowed seeds of Christianity in Uganda because the more they were persecuted, the more they became strong and resilient. They were ordinary people, a number of them working as pages in the king’s palace with no cleric among them.
The martyrs show us the strength of young people. As a young person, you can make a difference, choose to refuse evil and do right, they refused to betray their faith or compromise their Christian values. Many people today want to move in crowds because they think the crowd is right, it must be Christ to guide not necessarily the community.
They were not Martyrs for a single day, but daily. We too don’t become saints at ago, but daily struggle for perfection and holiness. Approach the sacrament of Penance to cleanse us. The martyrs suffered but never lost hope, as Paul puts it: nothing separated them from the love of Christ. May they intercede for us that we strive for holiness and this be shown by word and deed.
At Christ the King Parish Kabale, Martyrs Day celebrations were crowned with sports Competitions ranging from athletics, tag of war and football. In the Tag of war competition, members of St Augustine Choir reached the finals with the members of Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) and CCR emerged victorious.
In football, Catholic Men Apostolate (CMA) Team took the trophy after defeating Holy Family team on penalties after a 2:2 draw in the normal time, whereas the Boda boda team won the cup after defeating Foot Pilgrims team on penalties after a 2:2 draw in the normal play.
In athletics, Ainebyona Peter emerged winner in the children’s competition (5-10 years), while Twinomugisha Leah and Biryomumeisho Andrew won the competition for children between 11-15 years. Mrs. Tushemereirwe Gladys from Rutooma hiika won the competitions for elderly women (50-80 years) while Tuganyirwe Alex won competition for elderly men (50-80 years).
Hon. Dr. Nicholas Kamara, former MP for Kabale Municipality who officiated as the chief guest at the sports competitions thanked all those who participated and urged them to continue using sports to build solidarity among the faithful. He thanked the parish priest for building the culture of sports on every Martyrs’ Day in Christ the King Parish Kabale and reminded them that in perseverance and suffering with endurance leads to victory.
Fr. Fred Birungi, Parish Priest of Christ the King Kabale thanked all who participated in the competitions and all organizers and noted that the purpose was to show solidarity and oneness among the faithful of the parish so that they can know each other as members of different lay Apostolate movements who derive inspiration for the Uganda Martyrs.
The 22 Canonized Catholic Uganda Martyrs and their specific patronages:
- St. Charles Lwanga: Patron of Catholic Youth Action, Boy Scouts, and converts. (Burned alive at Namugongo)
- St. Matthias Mulumba Kalemba: Patron of families, chiefs, and local leaders.
- St. Andrew Kaggwa: Patron of catechists, teachers, and politicians.
- St. Denis Ssebuggwawo: Patron of musicians, singers, and choirs.
- St. Gonzaga Gonza: Patron of travelers, prisoners, and the ill-treated.
- St. Ponsiano Ngondwe: Patron of soldiers, policemen, and those in the armed/security forces.
- St. Athanasio Bazzekuketta: Patron of treasury, banking, and finance officials.
- St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe: Patron of politicians, diplomats, and chiefs.
- St. Mbaaga Tuzinde: Patron of vocations (seminarians, aspirants to religious life).
- St. Mukasa Kiriwawanvu: Patron of hotels, bars, and restaurants.
- St. Mugagga Lubowa: Patron of community development, craftspersons, and clubs.
- St. Kizito: Patron of primary school children and the virtue of purity (the youngest martyr, aged 14).
- St. Bruno Sserunkuuma: Patron of those battling temptation and alcoholism.
- St. Achilles Kiwanuka: Patron of journalists, writers, and pressmen.
- St. Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo: Patron of farmers, herders, and agriculture.
- St. Ambrose Kibuuka: Patron of youth societies and clubs.
- St. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo: Patron of students and educators.
- St. Gyaviira Musoke: Patron of those seeking unity and forgiveness.
- St. James Buuzabalyawo: Patron of choir singers and missionaries.
- St. Jean-Marie Muzeeyi: Patron of medical workers and those in public health.
- St. Luke Banabakintu: Patron of hospitality and hotel workers.
- St. Noe Mawaggali: Patron of marginalized laborers, scientists, and veterinarians.
Holy Martyrs of Uganda, pray for us.