Uganda delays 2026 Martyrs’ Day celebrations at Namugongo due to Ebola outbreak in DRC, citing public health risks and cross-border pilgrimages.
Newsroom (19/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Uganda has postponed its 2026 Martyrs’ Day celebrations, a major annual Catholic pilgrimage held at the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, citing growing concerns over an Ebola outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The decision halts preparations for one of the largest Catholic gatherings in the world, traditionally marked on June 3.
In a press release issued by Uganda State House and obtained on Sunday, May 17, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni confirmed that the move followed consultations with the country’s national epidemic response task force and religious leaders.
“After consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders, we have decided to postpone the Martyrs’ Day to a later date, which will be communicated,” Museveni said.
Public Health Concerns Drive Decision
The Ugandan government pointed to the significant number of pilgrims who travel annually from eastern DRC, a region currently grappling with a fresh Ebola outbreak. Officials say this cross-border movement presents a heightened risk of virus transmission.
“Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak,” the president explained, emphasizing that the decision was necessary “to safeguard everyone’s lives.”
The outbreak in the DRC has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. On May 15, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak after multiple deaths were reported in Ituri Province. A day later, on May 16, WHO classified the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), citing several risk factors including cross-border mobility, delayed detection of cases, fragile health systems, and ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo.
Health authorities have also noted that, at present, there is no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain, further complicating containment efforts.
Pilgrims Already on the Move
The postponement comes as preparations for the pilgrimage were already underway, with thousands of believers beginning their journeys toward Namugongo.
Reports from mid-May indicated that Bishop Francis Kibira of Kasese Catholic Diocese had set off from Kabuyiri Shrine to receive foot pilgrims arriving from the DRC. At the same time, pilgrims from Kenya—including groups from the dioceses of Eldoret, Kapsabet, Kericho, and Nakuru—had also begun traveling toward Uganda.
President Museveni expressed regret over the disruption, particularly for those who had already embarked on their pilgrimage.
“I encourage those who have begun their journey to return home, continue observing the precautionary measures, report anyone who is sick, and encourage those who are ill to seek medical care,” he said, underscoring that “the protection of life must come first.”
A Deeply Rooted Religious Tradition
Martyrs’ Day holds profound significance in Uganda and across the global Catholic community. The annual event commemorates 45 Christian converts—both Catholic and Anglican—who were executed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II of the Buganda Kingdom. The group included 22 Catholics who were beatified in 1920 and later canonized in 1964.
Many of the martyrs, some as young as 14, served as pages in the royal court and were killed for refusing to renounce their faith. Over the decades, their sacrifice has become a powerful symbol of Christian witness, drawing pilgrims from across Africa and beyond.
The Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, built at the site of the executions, has since evolved into a major center of spiritual devotion, attracting millions each year.
Impact on Planning and Local Preparations
The postponement disrupts extensive preparations that had already begun months in advance. In February, the Uganda Episcopal Conference entrusted the Catholic Diocese of Kasese with organizing the 2026 celebrations.
Officials from the Diocese’s communications department had highlighted strong collaboration with the Kasese District Local Government, describing it as a “shared commitment” to delivering a spiritually uplifting national event.
“The joint effort underscores unity, faith, and service,” the officials noted, pointing to coordinated plans for logistics, resource mobilization, and community engagement.
Those preparations will now be paused as authorities reassess the public health situation.
Heightened Surveillance and Regional Risk
Uganda’s decision reflects broader concerns about cross-border disease transmission in East Africa. Eastern DRC shares major movement corridors with Uganda and South Sudan, making the region particularly vulnerable during outbreaks.
The postponement forms part of Uganda’s heightened surveillance strategy to prevent Ebola from entering the country. Health officials are expected to intensify screening and monitoring measures along border points, especially given the frequency of travel linked to religious events and trade.
As the region monitors the evolving outbreak, Ugandan authorities have signaled that a new date for Martyrs’ Day will be announced once conditions are deemed safe.
For now, the postponement marks a rare interruption to a long-standing religious tradition—one rooted not only in faith, but also in the resilience of a community navigating the intersection of devotion and public health.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Africa
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