Thursday, June 3, 2010

Uganda Martyrs Day Namugongo Shrine-Uganda cultural tours

Today marks another yearly celebration of the Uganda martyrs at Namugongo shrine! 3rd June is the date when Christians in Uganda remember fellow believers who met their creator at the hands of a brutal Buganda king-Kabaka Mwanga II. The event dates back to 1985-87 after the demise of Kabaka Mutesa I, an untimely event that saw Mwanga II ascend to the Buganda kingdom's throne. Then was the time that Christianity had started digging it's roots deep within Uganda and the king felt like his powers were at a compromise when a page could not acquiesce his homosexual advances yet it was dogmatically perceived at the time that a king could live his life which ever way he wished and no subject was to differ from that!Hence a Luganda saying; Namunswa alya kunswaze !! On this date every year, Namugongo shrine is flocked by statesmen and more renowned celebrities from different angles to cerebrate the martyrs day event and the country's president is always present whenever he can.

You may be wondering why Namugongo; that is the place where twenty six (26) Christians were executed on 3rd June, 1986 for failing to denounce Christianity and pledge total royalty to the king as the order had been issued by Kabaka Mwanga II in may. The execution marked the climax of the Uganda martyrs and the last Uganda martyr was beheaded at Mengo on Jan 27, 1887

Facts about the Uganda Martyrs.

A total of 45 martyrs were executed over the years and that is only the number that is known
The Uganda martyrs faced horrific executions including spearing, guillotine and burning-a very poignant memory indeed!
Namugongo martyrs shrine has become a traditional Ugandan heritage and is now a reckoning force in the country's tourism sector as an ad on activity to Kampala city tour, Uganda cultural tours, and other Uganda safaris and a major inspiration to the believers.

observation: People spend month's on their journey from upcountry and the neighboring countries walking on foot up to this place with faith and a demonstration of their love for Christ!
**** More often than not, there are showers or a few rain drips at-least, on every martyrs day celebrations in Uganda! And rain is taken for a blessing in Uganda and Africa in General!

Happy martyrs day to all Ugandan Christians and to every one that sympathizes with the event and may you have all the day's blessings!