By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni postponed the June 3, Martyrs Day Celebrations and postponed to unspecified date over fears of a possible spread of Ebola disease.
The cancellation and postponement follow outbreak of the from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also confirmed the disease outbreak in DR and Uganda. Uganda has recorded two laboratory confirmed cases (including one death) with no apparent linked to travellers from DRC. The travellers who had no links to each other entered the country on 15 and 16 May 2026. The WHO however, did not declare a pandemic saying the situation doesn’t meet the necessary criteria. It also advised countries against closing borders or restricting trade.
But, Ugandan President announced the postponement of the country’s largest religious event. According to him, 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 said.
Martyrs Day is commemorated annually on June 3 at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo, attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims from Uganda and neighbouring countries.
Thousands of pilgrims from DRC and other neighbouring countries like Kenya, Tanzania usually travel to Uganda for the celebrations.
“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,” Museveni said.
Pilgrims from four dioceses in Kenya had and local pilgrims from different parts of Uganda had already started their pilgrimage. Museveni urged pilgrims who had already started their journey to return home and continue observing the Ministry of Health preventive guidelines.
“I encourage those who had begun their journey to return home, continue observing the precautionary measures, report anyone who is sick, and encourage those who are ill to seek medical care,” he added.
The President said government regretted any inconvenience caused but stressed that protection of life remained paramount.
This year’s Catholic celebrations were to be led by Kasese district, with preparations already underway at Namugongo. The Diocese had already received some pilgrims from Butembo Diocese in DRC and were.set to be flagged on on May 19. Several pilgrims from Kenya and different parts of Uganda had already begun trekking to the shrine ahead of the annual celebrations.
Security and health officials had in recent weeks intensified surveillance at border points following renewed Ebola cases in Eastern Congo.
The postponement marks a rare interruption of one of Uganda’s biggest religious gatherings, which annually draws believers from across East and Central Africa.
