President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced the postponement of this year’s Martyrs’ Day celebrations to a later date, citing the risk of importing Ebola from an ongoing outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement released on Sunday evening, May 17, 2026, the President said the decision followed consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders.
“After consultations with the national epidemic response task force and religious leaders, we have decided to postpone the Martyrs’ Day to a later date, which will be communicated,” Museveni stated.
He explained that Uganda annually receives thousands of pilgrims from eastern Congo, where an Ebola outbreak (Bundibugyo strain) is currently raging, with hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
“This decision was made because Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak. To safeguard everyone’s lives, it is essential that this important event be postponed,” the President added.
Museveni urged pilgrims who had already started their journeys to return home, continue observing precautionary measures, report anyone who is sick, and ensure the ill seek immediate medical care.
He expressed regret for the inconvenience but stressed that “the protection of life must come first.”
Martyrs’ Day, observed annually on June 3, is one of Uganda’s most important national and religious holidays. It commemorates the Uganda Martyrs — 45 young Christian converts (22 Catholic and 23 Anglican) who were executed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka (King) Mwanga II of Buganda for refusing to renounce their faith.
The executions, many of which took place at Namugongo, became a powerful symbol of courage, religious conviction, and resilience.
Their deaths are widely credited with strengthening and spreading Christianity in Uganda rather than suppressing it.
In 1964, Pope Paul VI canonized the 22 Catholic martyrs, and the Anglican martyrs are also venerated.
Every year, the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo (near Kampala) draws hundreds of thousands to millions of pilgrims from across Uganda and neighboring countries, including large numbers from the DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and beyond.
The event features prayers, processions, and massive open-air services, transcending religious lines as a day of national reflection on faith, sacrifice, and unity.
This year’s postponement comes as a precautionary measure to prevent a potential super-spreader event amid the cross-border Ebola threat.
A new date for the celebrations is expected to be announced once the health situation improves.
The President’s directive has been welcomed by health authorities as a responsible public health decision, even as many faithful express disappointment over the disruption to long-planned pilgrimages.
