The Ugandan government has officially acknowledged the Muslim martyrs who were executed under the orders of a local king beginning in 1874, allocating $52,926 (200 million Ugandan shillings) for this year’s Muslim Martyrs’ Day commemorations.
This marks the first official commemoration organized by Muslims in Uganda for these martyrs. Previously, only Catholics and Anglicans participated in the annual Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations held on June 3. Until recently, Muslims had been excluded from these events.
The Uganda Martyrs’ Day observances typically draw thousands of pilgrims to the Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, central Uganda. Prior to this year’s recognition, the official list of Uganda martyrs had included only the 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts executed between January 1885 and January 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda.
The Muslim converts were executed by a different Buganda king, Kabaka Mukaabya Walugembe Mutesa I. Their martyrdom stemmed from their adoption of Islam and refusal to consume non-Muslim-slaughtered beef, which angered the king.
Approximately 80 to 100 Muslims were martyred in Namugongo, marking them as the region’s first religious martyrs. The commemoration aims to honor their memory and educate the public about their sacrifices.
The young Christian and Muslim converts, who served in the kings’ palaces when Christianity and Islam arrived in Uganda in the 1870s, were either speared to death or burned alive on piles of dry firewood. Despite their agonizing deaths, they steadfastly praised their faith. This resilience contributed to the spread of Christianity in Uganda and beyond.
Uganda now observes Martyrs Day as a public holiday, attracting pilgrims from around the world, including neighboring countries like Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, and Tanzania, as well as visitors from Europe, Asia, and the United States.
The recognition of Uganda’s Muslim martyrs was announced by Betty Amongi, Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labor, and Social Development, emphasizing religious tolerance and historical acknowledgment. Amongi highlighted the significance of recognizing Muslim contributions and sacrifices in Uganda’s diverse religious landscape.
In addition to the funds allocated for Muslim Martyrs’ Day, similar amounts were allocated to the Catholic and Anglican churches for organizing their respective celebrations. Badru Kateregga, a chief organizer, noted the event’s shift to June 10 this year to distinguish it from Catholic and Anglican commemorations, emphasizing that while Muslims commemorate martyrs, they do not celebrate them.
Dr. Ziyad Swaleh Lubanga, Director of Shariah at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, shared plans to enhance the Uganda Muslim Martyrs’ site at Namugongo to match the Catholic and Anglican shrines, underscoring efforts to preserve cultural heritage and promote religious tourism.
Kateregga attributed the delay in recognizing Islamic martyrs to limited historical research, expressing the event’s goal to raise awareness and conclude with a ceremony at the national mosque on June 10, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.
