The Catholic Diocese of Johannesburg, working together with the resident Ugandan clergy and Christians in the greater Gauteng Province of South Africa, has taken a decision in the spirit of our common African Ubuntu, to assign a date for an annual celebration of Uganda Martyrs in South Africa.
This decision was confirmed last year following an engagement between the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, Rt. Rev. Buti TIhagale OMI, and Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, with deep reflection on the appreciation that “the Uganda Martyrs are a gift of the Ugandan faithful not only to the entire Catholic world but also to all believers in the respective religious affiliations”.
“This decision was taken to cater for the thousands of the Faithful who cherish the Martyrs of Uganda but are unable to travel to join in the annual celebrations in Namugongo every 3rd of June. To this effect, the archdiocese has dedicated Mother of Mercy Shrine, Magaliesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa to be the Annual Pilgrim site for Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations,” said Uganda High Commissioner, Paul Amoru, speaking from Pretoria.
The celebration of the Uganda Martyrs’ has progressively taken on an international dimension with the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles also having dedicated a Shrine of the Uganda Martyrs and depositing of the relics of St. Charles Lwanga and and the blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa in St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Panorama City back in 2022.
The 15th day of June of each year will, therefore, be the day the Church in South Africa will celebrate the Uganda Martyrs.
