Uganda Martyrs Shrine | Kampala City Tour
The Uganda martyrs shrine Namugongo is one of the top activities to do on your Kampala city tour.
You can reach the Uganda martyrs shrine Namugongo through the Kampala – Jinja highway. People all over the world folk this religious place which makes it the most visited religious area in Africa.
Uganda Martyrs shrine Namugongo is will offer you a long history of faith for 46 martyrs. The martyrs suffered a brutal massacre of men for their faith. The martyrs were of three doctrines that are Catholics, protestants and Muslims around the Baganda area.
The missionaries came to Uganda and introduced Christianity during during the reign of Kabaka Mwanga. Who he welcomed and provided land to construct churches and introduced them to chiefs to offer them assistance where need be?
Kabaka Mwanga later started growing hatred for the missionaries. This is because most of the Baganda started denouncing traditional ways or faith. Most of them chose to be Christians or the Muslim faith.
This hatred grew to the level that he wouldn’t control himself and in 1886 he became uncertain of his control over the Baganda people. This was sited when his subjects refused to obey some of his orders and they converted to that faith.
With this fear of the foreign religions threatening his rule, he decided or passed a decree to kill them. The decree gave orders to kill all the people who refused to denounce the foreign religions. That was Christianity and Muslim religions at that time.
His chiefs and army started piloting different areas of the kingdom and this led to the death of 32 martyrs.
Names of the Uganda Martyrs shrine at Namugongo
- Balikudembe
- Mbaga Tuzinde
- Charles Lwanga
- Kizito
- Mukasa Kiriwawanvu
- Yusufu LUGALAMA
- Kayizzi Kibuuka
- Gonzaga Gonza
- Achilleus Kiwanuka
- Gyavira Musoke
- Antanansio Bazzekuketta
- Ponsiano Ngondwe
- Nowa Mawaggali
- Daudi Muwanga
- Noah Walukaga
They were either speared or burnt to death for refusal of denouncing Christianity and Muslim faith or doctrines.
Uganda Martyrs Shrine History
The Uganda Martyrs shrine is built in a place where over 22 martyrs were speared and burnt at this place. Their two shrines are built in Namugongo which is the catholic shrine and the Anglican shrine.
Both shrines were built with architectural designs to reflect what happened to the brave young men. Who went through a lot of pain and suffering from their oppressors but they didn’t denounce their faith?
The Uganda government further announced the 3rd June of every year as a day to remember all the martyrs. The shrines are flocked with people of different faith in millions to attend prayers at any of these shrines.
The pilgrims start a month in advance to walk to this place from different parts of the world.
As a tourist, you can visit any other day and learn about the martyrs’ stories. You will enjoy the architectural works of the church building with the representation of the 22 martyrs.
There is a lake to draw holy water that is believed to have divine healing powers and blessings
Checkout other Kampala attractions
- Kasubi Royal Tombs
- Uganda National Museum
- Gaddafi National Mosque
- Kabaka’s Palace Mengo
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1 day Kampala City Tour
