Ongoing health concerns and measures to prevent the spread of Ebola led the Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Church (AOCC) in Uganda to hold a scaled-down Uganda Martyrs’ Day commemoration at Mamre International Prayer Centre in Namugongo Janda this year.
Unlike previous celebrations that attracted thousands of pilgrims and faithful, attendance was limited in accordance with public health guidelines. Despite the smaller gathering, Church leaders emphasized that the significance of the Uganda Martyrs and their enduring message remains unchanged.
Leading the celebrations, AOCC Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka urged Christians to draw inspiration from the Uganda Martyrs, whose unwavering faith and unity continue to serve as a model for believers across the country.
“We celebrated this year in a simple way with a limited number of faithful because of the ongoing health concerns. However, the significance of the Uganda Martyrs remains unchanged. The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Unity in Martyrdom,’” Bishop Kibuuka said during his homily.
The bishop called on Christians to remain committed to the truth and strengthen family bonds through faith and obedience to God’s commandments.
“The Uganda Martyrs serve as a call for us as a Church to always stand for the truth and remain united as one family. Parents should strengthen themselves in religion and guide their children in the ways of God. Today, many families are divided because fathers, mothers, and children follow different beliefs and religions. We need to remain united in faith, in martyrdom, and in all situations. Let us strengthen unity and love,” he said.
Bishop Kibuuka also expressed concern over what he described as a growing tendency among believers to focus on personal gain rather than spiritual growth.
“Nowadays, many people are looking for miracles, easy solutions, and what benefits them personally instead of seeking God and remaining obedient to Him,” he said.
He further appealed to Ugandans to embrace unity beyond religious, tribal, political, and social differences, noting that national development depends on peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
“Let us remain united in Jesus Christ our Savior. We can still be united as Ugandans without segregation or discrimination based on tribe, religion, gender, or politics. Where there are divisions, there can be no development or unity. We are all Ugandans, created by one God and living on the same land. Therefore, we must help one another,” he said.
Drawing parallels with the Uganda Martyrs, Bishop Kibuuka noted that although the martyrs came from different tribes and backgrounds, they remained united in their faith in Christ.
“The martyrs came from different tribes, yet they were united in Jesus Christ. That is why we call them the Uganda Martyrs. They teach us the important lesson of standing together and loving one another instead of seeing each other as enemies,” he added.
