The Church of Uganda has launched a fundraising campaign to build a shrine to the Martyrs of Uganda at Namugongo.

At a press conference held last week at the provincial offices in Kampala, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali announced that former Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo would spearhead the campaign to raise funds to build a guest house and museum at the site of the martyrdom of 23 Ugandan Anglicans.

The Uganda Martyrs were Christian converts – Anglican and Roman Catholics — who were murdered for their faith by the King of Buganda between 1885 and 1887, after they refused to offer sacrifices to the traditional gods and because they resisted King Mwanga’s homosexual practices.

In 1964 Pope Paul VI canonized the Catholic martyrs and the Roman Catholic Church built a basilica near the site of their martyrdom.  Anglican and Catholic pilgrims from across the Uganda gather at Namugongo on June 3rdto honor their faith and celebrate the conversion of Uganda to Christianity.

The Anglican site presently consists of a small chapel, park and the restored hut of the King’s executioner. The museum and guest house will enable tourists to “understand our rich culture but also understand the power of the Gospel to bring hope and transformation to people’s lives because of the testimony and legacy of the early martyrs,” Archbishop Ntagali told the press conference.

First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.