The Government of Uganda has announced the postponement of this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, a major event in the Catholic and Anglican calendar, citing concerns over a potential Ebola outbreak linked to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Yoweri Museveni said the decision followed consultations with health authorities and religious leaders, as the country prepares for the annual June 3 commemoration at the Namugongo shrines.
The President emphasised that safeguarding human life must take precedence over the historic pilgrimage, which draws millions of faithful from across Africa.
“After consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders, we have decided to postpone the Martyrs Day celebrations to a later date, which will be communicated,” he said in a national address.
Uganda Martyrs Day is one of the most significant events on the Church’s calendar in Africa, commemorating the 45 Christian converts who were martyred between 1885 and 1887 under the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II after refusing to renounce their faith.
Each year, more than two million pilgrims gather at the Catholic Shrine at Namugongo and the Anglican site nearby, with many travelling long distances on foot from countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC.
However, authorities say the large influx of pilgrims, particularly from eastern DRC, where Ebola cases have been reported poses a serious public health risk.
“This decision was made because Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak,” President Museveni said. “To safeguard everyone’s lives, it is essential that this important event be postponed.”
He also urged pilgrims who had already begun their journey to suspend their travel plans and return home, while continuing to observe public health precautions and reporting any suspected illness.
Church leaders have backed the move, stressing that the protection of life remains a fundamental Christian responsibility, even as the faithful look forward to honouring the martyrs.
Health officials warn that Ebola, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, can spread rapidly in crowded settings such as large pilgrimages, especially where sanitation and healthcare access may be stretched.
Uganda has previously succeeded in containing outbreaks through swift response measures, but authorities remain cautious due to continued cross-border movement.
The postponement is expected to impact businesses and communities that rely on the annual influx of pilgrims. Nevertheless, both state and Church authorities maintain that the decision is necessary in the interest of public safety.
New dates for the celebrations are expected to be announced once the health situation improves.
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