By As the country prepares to mark Uganda Martyrs Day on June 3, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has issued a strong call for national reflection, urging Ugandans to embrace the values of faith, unity, justice, and service exemplified by the Martyrs of Namugongo.
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During a press briefing on Wednesday, UPC Spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon emphasized that while this year’s theme “Walking in the footsteps of the martyrs for a faithful journey” invites meaningful reflection, the country is falling short of living up to the ideals for which the martyrs died.
“We are failing to walk this journey in a prescribed manner,” she stated. “There is too much selfishness and greed that has generated primitive accumulation of wealth and corruption. Our brothers and sisters are faced with endless land evictions. The ordinary person seems to be at the mercy of God.”
UPC noted that Uganda’s struggles with corruption, land evictions, violent politics, poor service delivery, and rising youth unemployment are a betrayal of the values of sacrifice, faith, and patriotism upheld by the martyrs, who were killed on June 3, 1886, on orders of Kabaka Mwanga for their religious convictions.
The party criticized the government’s failure to enact long-demanded electoral and constitutional reforms, which it said has limited political space and fairness in Uganda’s multiparty democracy since 2006.
“The political space is too limited with many impediments, and unemployment is rising, especially among the youth. If the situation doesn’t change, the youth may rise to be counted as a new generation of martyrs fighting for their rights,” the statement warned, referencing the Gen Z-led unrest in neighboring Kenya as a cautionary tale.
UPC also decried the state of public infrastructure and services, citing high-cost, poor-quality roads, underfunded hospitals and schools, and frequent building collapses. The party linked these failures to endemic corruption and lack of accountability within government institutions.
“We must seriously consider walking in the footsteps of the martyrs or risk perishing at the hands of extreme greed, nepotism, sectarianism, and tribalism,” Arach warned.
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Calling for a moral and political awakening, UPC urged Ugandans to reflect not only on the sacrifices of the past but also on the urgent need to build “a Uganda and Africa that works for everyone.”
Martyrs Day is observed annually on June 3rd at Namugongo to honor the 45 Christian converts killed for their faith during the late 19th century. The event draws pilgrims from across Uganda and beyond.
