Short answer: Uganda Martyrs Day is held every year on 3 June at Namugongo, near Kampala, and is a public holiday. Catholics and Anglicans gather at their two shrines to honour the 45 young Christians killed in the 1880s. The 2026 national celebration did not go ahead because of an Ebola outbreak, and the Uganda Episcopal Conference has said Kasese Diocese will lead the 2027 celebration. In 2027, 3 June falls on a Thursday.
Last updated: 29 October 2026. Plans for 2027 are the church’s to confirm, so check with the Uganda Episcopal Conference before you book.
Uganda Martyrs Day is the biggest pilgrimage in East Africa, and it follows a simple idea: people walk, travel and camp for days to be at Namugongo on the morning of 3 June. This guide explains what the day is, what happens, what changed in 2026, and how to attend as a pilgrim or a respectful visitor.
What is Uganda Martyrs Day?
Uganda Martyrs Day remembers the young Christians killed in the Kingdom of Buganda between 1885 and 1887. The date, 3 June, marks the day in 1886 when Charles Lwanga and others were burned alive at Namugongo. The Catholic calendar lists that date for Lwanga and his companions, and the Church of England also commemorates the Anglican martyrs on 3 June.
For the full story, read who the Uganda Martyrs were and the life of Charles Lwanga. The Catholic martyrs were canonised on 18 October 1964, and 3 June has been a national day of pilgrimage ever since.
What happens on Uganda Martyrs Day
Two main services take place at Namugongo, one at each shrine. The Catholic Mass at the basilica usually begins around 10 am and runs for about five hours, and a different Ugandan diocese leads the celebration each year. The Anglican service at the Church of Uganda shrine has been reported to start earlier, at about 9 am.
Around the services you will see pilgrims who have walked for days, families camping near the shrines, vendors selling food and religious goods, and prayer groups singing through the night. At the Catholic shrine, a platform is set up on the pond as an island altar, reached by a bridge.
Uganda Martyrs Day in 2026 and 2027
In 2026 the national celebration at Namugongo did not take place. An Ebola outbreak led the government and the Uganda Episcopal Conference to move the feast to parish and diocesan level, and pilgrims were asked not to travel to Namugongo. 3 June stayed a public holiday. Uganda declared the outbreak over on 28 July 2026 after 42 days without new cases.
For 2027, the Uganda Episcopal Conference has said Kasese Diocese, which had been due to host in 2026, will animate the national celebration. Press reports say funds already raised will be carried over. A date change is possible if health conditions change, so treat early plans as provisional.
| Year | What happened or is planned |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Celebrated at Namugongo on Monday 3 June, with metal detectors, Red Cross treatment points and heavy security |
| 2025 | Pilgrims walked from many dioceses; some camped at the shrine more than a week early |
| 2026 | National celebration cancelled over Ebola; feast held in parishes |
| 2027 | Planned for 3 June (a Thursday), led by Kasese Diocese; confirm closer to the date |
How to attend Uganda Martyrs Day
Attendance is open to everyone, and the day is intended for pilgrims. If you are a first-time visitor, these points matter most:
- Arrive early. Pilgrims gather before dawn, and the roads near Namugongo are slow.
- Expect security checks. Both sites use metal detectors, so travel light.
- Bring your own food and water. Vendors sell food, but meals are not provided. Spring water at the shrines is popular, but the Anglican site advises boiling it before drinking.
- Dress modestly and wear comfortable shoes. See our Uganda dress code guide.
- Plan the return. Leaving a crowd of this size takes time, so decide in advance how you will get back to Kampala.
If you would rather see the shrines without the crowds, visit on an ordinary weekday. Our Namugongo Martyrs Shrine guide explains how.
Plan your Martyrs Day trip
Rooms near Namugongo run short, so book early. Our Martyrs’ Day 2027 accommodation guide covers where to stay. If you are walking, read about the walking pilgrimage to Namugongo.
For groups, we plan transport, guides and a programme around the dates. See the 3-day Uganda Martyrs trail pilgrimage, the 5-day multi-faith pilgrimage, or the full religious tourism in Uganda list.
Uganda Martyrs Day FAQs
When is Uganda Martyrs Day 2027?
It is planned for 3 June 2027, which is a Thursday. Kasese Diocese is due to lead the national celebration at Namugongo. Confirm the programme with the Uganda Episcopal Conference nearer the time.
Why was Uganda Martyrs Day cancelled in 2026?
The national gathering at Namugongo was called off because of an Ebola outbreak. The feast was held in parishes instead. Uganda declared the outbreak over on 28 July 2026.
Is Uganda Martyrs Day a public holiday?
Yes. 3 June is a public holiday in Uganda, and it stayed one in 2026 even though the national celebration was cancelled.
Can tourists attend Uganda Martyrs Day?
Yes, visitors of any faith can attend, but it is a pilgrimage, not a tourist event. Expect very large crowds, early starts and security checks, and dress and behave respectfully.
How many people attend Uganda Martyrs Day?
Estimates vary a lot, from hundreds of thousands to a few million in some years. No single official figure is reliable, so plan for a very large crowd.
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About the author: Victoria Kayaga
Victoria Kayaga is a Ugandan-born safari expert and the founder of Afraeka Adventures, with over 7 years of experience in the East African tourism industry. She specializes in gorilla trekking, wildlife safaris and multi-country itineraries across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
