By President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially directed that government support for Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations be included in the national budget every year, citing the significance of the event to Uganda’s spiritual and cultural identity.
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Speaking during his address at the Anglican Shrine in Namugongo where thousands of pilgrims gathered from across Uganda and beyond, Museveni said that the state will no longer offer financial assistance to the annual commemoration on an ad hoc basis, but as a fixed line item in the national budget going forward.
“This year, we contributed Shs2 billion to the Catholic shrine, another Shs2 billion to the Protestant shrine, and Shs200 million to the Muslims,” Museveni stated. “I have now directed the government to make this part of the annual budget. It should not depend on requests.”
The President made the announcement to rousing applause from clergy, pilgrims, and dignitaries who had braved long journeys and heavy security to attend the June 3rd Martyrs Day commemorations.
Museveni praised the devotion of the faithful and said the day holds national value beyond religious affiliation.
“I’m happy to see all of you walking and sleeping here for days to honour the Uganda Martyrs,” he said. “Your faith is powerful. Your unity is what builds the nation.”
He also emphasized the importance of religious harmony, calling on all denominations to live in peace and to avoid using faith as a basis for division or superiority.
“Do not attack other religions to prove that yours is the only path to God,” Museveni warned. “We shall know them by their fruits.”
The President also revisited the ideological foundations of his leadership, reminding Ugandans that NRM’s guiding principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, social-economic transformation, and democracy are rooted in historical truths about national development.
“Uganda’s market alone is not enough for prosperity. We need regional unity. That is why Pan-Africanism is vital,” he said. “We must look beyond tribes and denominations to succeed.”
Museveni called on Ugandans not to mix politics with religious loyalty and encouraged them to draw inspiration from biblical parables such as the Good Samaritan whom he said exemplified love and compassion beyond religious or ethnic boundaries.
Reflecting on his own faith journey, Museveni recalled his days as president of the Scripture Union in the 1960s and his commitment to unity during the liberation struggle, including how his forces built consensus among people of all faiths and even traditional beliefs.
“We did not condemn beliefs unless they endangered lives,” he said. “But we explained that science, not superstition, wins battles.”
He further pledged support for future commemorations by Uganda’s Muslim community, stating that he had received information that Muslims too suffered martyrdom under Kabaka Mwanga’s rule.
“This occasion belongs to all Ugandans. Let us honour every sacrifice,” he added.
The Uganda Martyrs Day holiday was officially declared in 1986 after the NRM took power and recognized June 3rd as a national day of remembrance. Since then, the pilgrimage to Namugongo has grown into one of the largest religious gatherings on the continent.
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As security remained tight following a foiled terrorist incident earlier in the day at Munyonyo, President Museveni reassured the country that peace and order were intact and urged citizens to remain vigilant.
“May God bless you. Long live Uganda. Long live the freedom of worship,” the President concluded.
Let me know if you’d like an accompanying sidebar on the history of the Uganda Martyrs.
