No Martyrs’ Day Celebrations – Archbishop Kazimba

The Anglican Church of Uganda has officially communicated the cancellation of Uganda Marty’s Day celebrations which are held every 3rd day of June.

The Uganda Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church under it’s Chairmanship of Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese Rt Rev Anthony Zziwa was the first make the pronouncement mid this month.

While delivering this Sunday’s sermon at the Archbishop’s palace at Namirembe, the Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu also announced the cancellation of this year’s Uganda Marty’s day celebrations.

“These days things are done like business unusual. You know we celebrated Easter in our homes and even this year we are going to celebrate Uganda Martyrs’ Day in our homes,” said Kaziimba.

“I can’t say that we will not celebrate Martyrs’ day. I will celebrate it but we will not be traveling to Namugongo, the site, the real site to celebrate. No, because we cannot do that,” he added.

Every 3rd day of June, people from all over Uganda, East Africa and the rest of the world trek to Namugongo to commemorate the lives of Uganda Martyrs who were killed on orders of King Mwanga II of Buganda Kingdom.

The Uganda Martyrs are a group of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda, who were executed between 31 January 1885 and 27 January 1887. They were killed on orders of Mwanga II, the Kabaka of Buganda

The cancellation of the Uganda Marty’s day celebrations is in relation to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which is ravaging the world and has so far killed more than 230,000 people across the world.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Kazimba called on pardoned prisoners to avoid revenge once reintegrated in their respective communities.

In a bid to decongest prisons and contain further spread of COVID-19, President Museveni pardoned 833 prisoners held in various prisons across the country.

Kazimba said the act of revenge should only be left to God. 

“So you, if you are one of those who were forgiven, don’t go back and revenge. You know some people may just go and say it is so and so who accused me falsely. Now I am going to retaliate, I am going to revenge. Don’t do that. You have been forgiven, you also got to forgive,” said Kazimba.

He added: “It’s like Christ’s love. You know when Christ rose from the dead, he didn’t condemn Peter and others who had denied him. Peter denied him three times and Jesus forgave him.”

The Archbishop also extended his message of hope to all the workers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is very challenging but I want you to know even amidst this, God is still in charge of caring for you. God will not stop caring for you because your boss wrote you that you don’t have a cheque. God’s love is extreme, excessive, extensive, extravagant. Still He (God) will take care of you,” he said.