The famous holy water well, which pilgrims traditionally flock to during the celebrations, has also been closed and will remain inaccessible until after the commemorations.
The roads leading to Namugongo are usually alive with songs, prayers and the steady footsteps of pilgrims making their way from across Uganda and beyond. Days before Uganda Martyrs Day, the shrines are often filled with worshippers seeking spiritual renewal, while vendors, volunteers and church leaders make final preparations for one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.
This year, however, the paths to Namugongo remain largely empty.
An Ebola outbreak linked to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo has brought an abrupt halt to the annual pilgrimage, forcing thousands of Christians to abandon plans to travel to the revered Uganda Martyrs shrines. In a move aimed at protecting public health, the government suspended all pilgrimage activities and urged believers to mark the occasion from their homes and local churches instead.
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The decision, announced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, came as health authorities intensified efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. While Uganda Martyrs Day is traditionally marked by massive crowds gathering at both the Catholic Shrine and the Anglican site at Nakiyanja, this year’s celebrations have been scaled down to a small prayer service attended only by invited participants.
With only hours remaining before the June 3 commemoration, organizers moved to reassure Christians that the spirit of the day would not be lost despite the absence of pilgrims.
Addressing journalists at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono, Rev. Dr. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, urged believers to respect the government’s directive and avoid traveling to Namugongo.
“Christians should join prayers from their local churches or follow the celebrations through television, radio and online platforms,” he said.
The organizers warned that security agencies would enforce the restrictions and that anyone attempting to enter Namugongo without authorization would be turned back.
The unusual circumstances have forced major changes to preparations that had been underway for months. A choir initially expected to comprise 600 singers has been reduced to just 30 members. The famous holy water well, which pilgrims traditionally flock to during the celebrations, has also been closed and will remain inaccessible until after the commemorations.
For many faithful, the restrictions represent a painful sacrifice. Uganda Martyrs Day is not only a religious event but also a deeply personal journey of faith. Every year, pilgrims travel hundreds of kilometers on foot, enduring exhaustion, harsh weather and physical discomfort in fulfillment of vows, thanksgiving or spiritual devotion.
This year, those journeys have been replaced by television screens, radio broadcasts and mobile phones.
Despite the disappointment, church leaders have appealed for understanding, emphasizing that protecting life remains paramount. They encouraged Christians to unite in prayer wherever they are and to observe the day’s significance without exposing themselves or others to the risk of infection.
According to David Mugawe, UCU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, preparations at Namugongo had already consumed more than Shs3 billion before the suspension. The government contributed Shs2 billion, while UCU provided Shs1 billion, with additional support coming from individual donors.
Although the expected crowds will not arrive this year, organizers say the investments made in improving the shrine will continue to serve future pilgrims when normal celebrations resume.
As churches across the country prepare to commemorate the Uganda Martyrs, health officials are using the occasion to reinforce public health messages. Ugandans have been urged to wash their hands regularly with soap, use sanitizers, avoid physical contact such as handshakes, stay away from crowded gatherings and seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms associated with Ebola.
For now, the silence at Namugongo stands in stark contrast to the vibrant scenes that normally characterize Uganda’s most important religious celebration. Yet church leaders insist that while the pilgrimage may have been halted, the faith and devotion that define Uganda Martyrs Day remain as strong as ever.
This year, the journey to Namugongo will not be measured in miles walked, but in prayers offered from afar.