Northern Pilgrims March to Namugongo as COU Flags Off Martyrs Mission Week

Hundreds of Anglican faithful from Northern Uganda are trekking on foot to Namugongo for this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, as the Church of Greater Northern Cluster spearheads preparations marked by prayer, evangelism, and a call to emulate the martyrs’ devotion through good works.

Rt. Rev. Godfrey Loum, Bishop of Northern Uganda and chairperson of the organising committee, said on Wednesday that 979 pilgrims had already departed from Bombo and were making their way through Matugga on their journey to St. Peter’s Church in Naguru, where they are expected to arrive by May 30.

“This whole week until Monday has been declared mission week by the Church of Uganda,” Bishop Loum told journalists.

“We have already held a children’s conference. On Friday, we shall gather the youth, Saturday is for the men, and on Monday, the women’s conference will bring it to a close.”

The bishop called for vigilance and caution among pilgrims, urging all participants to be registered and screened by security for safety.

“We know there are those who may want to join along the way, but for their safety and that of others, everyone must be properly registered and cleared,” he said.

Martyrs Day, marked every June 3, commemorates the young Ugandan Christians who were executed between 1885 and 1887 for refusing to renounce their faith.

The celebrations draw millions of pilgrims from Uganda and across Africa.

This year’s Anglican service will be led by the Greater Northern Cluster, a regional bloc of dioceses that includes Lango, Northern Uganda, Kitgum, Nebbi, and others.

The theme—Emulating God’s Goodness by Doing Good—draws inspiration from the example of the martyrs’ sacrifice.

Bishop Loum said the cluster plans to install a solar project at the Anglican martyrs' site in Namugongo as a lasting memorial of their turn to lead the national celebrations.

“It is both a symbol of light and sustainability—just like the faith of the martyrs continues to shine for generations,” he said.

The main preacher will be former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected as guest of honour at the national function.

As pilgrims make their way from across the country, including the north, security agencies are already stepping up coordination along major routes and resting points.

Pilgrims from other dioceses have been encouraged to observe discipline, remain hydrated, and follow the guidance of their leaders and police escorts.

For the northern pilgrims, the journey is not just about honouring the martyrs, but also reclaiming the spiritual significance of a region still healing from decades of conflict.

Bishop Loum emphasised that this pilgrimage is both a remembrance and a renewal.

“By walking, praying, and sacrificing our comfort, we are joining our ancestors who laid down their lives for the faith,” he said.

“It is a message of peace and witness to Uganda that goodness still walks among us.”