Background

On 3rd June 1886, 25 young men (13 Anglicans and 12 Catholic), pages of the court of King Mwanga II of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce Christianity.

Uganda Martyrs’ Museum, Namugongo (Namugongo Shrine) was first recognized by Joshua Serufusa-Zake (1884-25 June 1985) when he was the Sabaddu of Kira Sub-County. He constructed a structure at the Namugongo site, where the current shrines were later built for prayer. For the last four decades, Uganda Matry’s Namugongo has been growing consistently as one the faith based and Cultural tourism sites. Annually on 3rd June, Christians from Uganda and other parts of the world congregate at Namugongo to commemorate the lives and religious beliefs of the Uganda Martyrs. Crowds have been estimated in hundreds of thousands in some years.

The Church of Uganda in 2013 under the auspicious leadership of the Late Rtd, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Dr. Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo with his Team started the redevelopment of the Uganda Martyrs’ Museum, Namugongo with a vision of turning Namugongo into a World Class Faith Based and Pilgrimage based tourist site where the 25 Christian Converts were martyred in 1886.

The Project was defined into two phases (1 & 2):

1. Phase 1 commenced in 2014 focusing on the start-up infrastructure components which includes; the Martyr’s Museum Core Site Structure, Boundary Wall with main Entrance, Public Toilets, Martyrs’ Memorial Spring Well, Construction and Relocation of the Primary School (Shifted to PHASE II) which stands at 85% of works sofa done hoping to finish by the end of May 2020.
2. Phase II components include; The 3rd June Worship Centre / Amphitheatre with a Parish Community Church, The 5 floored Martyrs’ Museum Tower, 200 rooms Museum Hotel, Children’s Leisure and Recreation Centre.

In June 2015, an estimated 2 million people attended the 3rd June event and since then the number is increasing. The Government of Uganda realized the significant tourism potential of Namugongo Martyrs’ Museum Site and in the FY 2016/17, Government pledged commitment to the redevelopment of the Phase I activities.

Given that Phase 1 works is nearing completion, there was need to commence on phase II works and subsequently at a meeting held on 7th May 2018 between Church of Uganda team headed by the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali; Archbishop Church of Uganda and H.E the President of Uganda Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at state house Entebbe. The meeting discussed and agreed on a core funding to be funded jointly by Church of Uganda (COU) and Government of Uganda (GOU). COU through fundraising is to contribute 70% and GOU is to contribute 30%.

To reach where we are, we have received tremendous support from locally organized Church fundraisings, Individuals, Organizations and Corporations, the Government of Uganda and Your Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda as a person have supported us.

We are indeed very grateful for your support.