Archbishop Augustine Kasujja has called on Catholics and other Christians to view the story of the Uganda Martyrs as a shared testimony of faith rooted in Christian unity.
Delivering his homily at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo on June 3, Archbishop Kasujja said the martyrs represented different Christian traditions and demonstrated a common commitment to Christ despite persecution.
He noted that both Anglican and Roman Catholic believers were executed at the same site and urged Christians to strengthen ecumenical relations by focusing on their shared faith rather than doctrinal differences.
“The martyrs remain a living example of Christian unity and a model that today’s faithful should emulate,” he said.
Archbishop Kasujja also recalled the words of Pope Paul VI during the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs on October 18, 1964, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. While canonising the 22 Catholic martyrs from Uganda, Pope Paul VI also paid tribute to the Anglican martyrs who were executed alongside them, saying: “Nor must we forget those members of the Anglican Church who also died for the name of Christ.”
The Archbishop further reminded worshippers that during his historic visit to Uganda in 1969, Pope Paul VI visited both the Catholic and Anglican shrines at Namugongo. The Pope expressed respect for the Anglican Church in Uganda and honoured all those who, together with the Catholic martyrs, bore witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Kasujja told the congregation that the legacy of the martyrs should inspire Christians to pursue unity with hope and confidence.
He said differences among Christians should not be resolved by revisiting past divisions but by moving forward together, trusting that God will provide guidance and strength on the journey toward greater unity.
The Archbishop also expressed hope that Uganda could continue to experience peace, justice, trust and moral renewal through the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs.
This year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations were observed differently following the Ebola outbreak in the country. The annual pilgrimage that normally attracts hundreds of thousands of faithful from Uganda and across the world was called off.
In response to the public health concerns, the Uganda Episcopal Conference directed Catholics to commemorate the day at parish level across all 19 Catholic dioceses in Uganda.
By Charles Katabalwa
03rd June 2026
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