South Africa – The Archbishop of Johannesburg Bishop Joseph Buti Tlhagale has declared a Uganda – South Africa Day to be observed every June 3rd in honor of Uganda Martyrs.
He made the declaration at the 6th annual celebrations of the Uganda Martyrs Day held on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at St Maria Goretti parish Cherwoha place, Riverlea, in Johannesburg South Africa.
The event was organized by the Uganda Christian community in South Africa to give the Ugandan Diaspora in South Africa an opportunity to celebrate the Uganda Martyrs’ Day away from home.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Amoru in company of a cross-section of his Mission staff joined hundreds of believers at the celebrations.
Bishop Buti was the chief celebrant of the Uganda Martyrs Day mass. He was supported by a team of seven Ugandan Reverend fathers serving in various dioceses in various provinces of South Africa which included; East London, Krugersdorp, Northwest, Northern Cape, Gauteng and Limpopo, among others.
The Bishop proposed to the High Commissioner that the Martyr’s Day celebration should be managed as a joint Uganda–South Africa Martyrs’ Day celebration during which pilgrims from South Africa to Uganda should be supported. He pledged going forward, his diocese would support pilgrims from South Africa to Uganda every year.
He added that the celebration in South Africa will be conducted at the Catholic shrine in Johannesburg to give the commemoration of the Martyrs the due importance it deserves.
Bishop Buti directed his clergy to work with the Uganda High Commission and establish a joint working committee to steer and start early coordination of the 2024 Martyrs’ Day celebration such that by next year, rehearsals are done and an established implementation plan in place for the 7th anniversary of the Martyrs’ Day celebration in South Africa.
During his remarks, the Bishop informed the congregants that the Uganda Martyrs were extremely courageous and bold to not relent but die for their faith despite the horrendous suffering they were subjected to and eventually killed. He added that this goes a long way in affirming their commitment to their faith. He urged Christians to always remain steadfast in their faith despite the challenges they face.
“I had heard about the Uganda martyrs but had not experienced the martyr’s celebration. Since I have got the opportunity to appreciate the Martyrs’ sacrifice and the significance of their brave act to humanity, I’m going to proclaim the Uganda Martyrs as Africa’s and Global Martyrs who died in the pursuit of their religion for a global cause,” said Bishop Buti.
Amb. Paul Amoru, in his martyrs’ day message thanked the leadership of the community for keeping the community together and participating in such activities that kept them together in peace and harmony.
“The High Commissioner urged the community to remain focused and resilient despite the challenges they face as foreign nationals they needed as was demonstrated by the young martyrs who despite their persecution, and all other forms of torture they were subjected to they remained brave and faithful in what they believed in and chose martyrdom over renouncing their beliefs. He pointed out that their sacrifice became a turning point in the spread of Christianity in Uganda, and their legacy continues to inspire millions to this day,” said a statement by the Uganda High Commission in South Africa.
“Amb Paul Amoru informed that the activity of celebrating the Martyrs in South Africa is a fundamental idea that promotes Uganda’s religious and cultural tourism which could be leveraged further to increase the numbers of people that visited Uganda for the event, by including tourism packages, such as the gorilla tracking, bird watching, visit to the source of the Nile and game parks among others,” it added.
As was proposed by the Bishop, Amb. Amoru, reiterated that in future, a deliberate effort should be put in place to support delegations from South Africa to travel to Uganda during the Martyr’s week. He indicated that the Bishop had pre-emptied his dream of having a Uganda-South Africa joint working committee to coordinate the annual event in RSA but also support pilgrims from South Africa to Uganda for the celebration.
The High Commissioner pledged the Mission’s support to these efforts to ensure that as Martyrs Day is being celebrated, the two nations benefit in terms of tourism and cultural tourism revenue collection.
Uganda Martyrs Day is celebrated every 3rd June at Namugogo in commemoration of 45 Ugandan Christians who were killed for their faith.
The martyrs including 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans were murdered at Namugogo on orders of Kabaka Mwanga the then ruler of Buganda Kingdom.
This year, Uganda Martyrs Day was commemorated under the theme; “Celebrating Courage and Faith.”
