Fears are rising over the growing number of worshippers in Uganda whose physical presence in church stands in stark contrast to a declining commitment to the values of the Uganda Martyrs, nearly 60 years after their canonisation. As the country prepares for another Martyrs Day on June 3, a sobering question rings out louder than the cathedral bells: Has the Church in Uganda walked in the footsteps of its Martyrs, or simply borrowed their names?
Since the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs and Pope Paul VI’s historic visit in 1969, when he told Africans “You are now missionaries to yourselves,” the church has grown. But with that growth have come fresh anxieties — a growing flock shadowed by a weakening moral compass. Olive Orishaba, a devout Anglican, doesn’t mince words. “There’s a forward and backward movement in the Church. We celebrate the Martyrs every year, but we don’t live like them. The fire they had — the courage, the sacrifice — we’re losing it under political fear and material comfort.”
The Martyrs, Catholic and Anglican alike, faced gruesome deaths at the hands of King Mwanga II in the late 19th century. They refused to denounce their Christian faith or submit to the king’s demands, including sexual exploitation and forced idolatry. Their legacy is commemorated across shrines, churches, and pilgrimages, yet a growing number of Ugandans are beginning to question if the essence of their sacrifice still resonates in daily life. Fr. Joseph Mukiibi, Director of Communications at the Kampala Archdiocese, admits the Church faces a dilemma. “We have over 13 million Catholics in Uganda. We’ve built schools, hospitals, and missions. But growth in numbers is not the same as growth in spirit.”
Uganda’s faith landscape remains energetic. More dioceses are created, youth fellowships are thriving, and the Namugongo pilgrimage continues to draw millions each June. Yet cracks are becoming visible. Integrity is eroding. Lay theologian Isaac Akatukunda from the Kigezi West Diocese says the Church has grown silent where it should be loud. “We honour the Martyrs but we’re mute on corruption. We speak boldly against sin in the Bible, but we’re afraid to call out sin in government. That silence is betrayal. The Martyrs died resisting tyranny — what are we resisting today?”
The Prosperity Gospel has further complicated matters. Across Pentecostal and even Catholic pulpits, wealth is increasingly framed as a sign of divine favour. “It’s ironic,” Akatukunda says, “that in a country where the Martyrs chose death over privilege, some pastors now sell ‘anointed’ water and charge entry fees for crusades. Are we worshiping Christ — or capitalism?”
Still, to paint the entire Church as passive would be unfair. Uganda has produced leaders who walked the Martyrs’ path in modern times. Archbishop Janani Luwum stood firm against Idi Amin’s dictatorship and paid the ultimate price. Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga consistently challenged electoral injustice and spoke out against growing inequality until his death in 2021. “These men lived the Martyrs’ legacy,” says Fr. Mukiibi. “But the real question is: are we raising more leaders like them? Or are we retreating into religious comfort zones?”
Ironically, today’s Church enjoys the freedom the Martyrs could only dream of. It can preach, organise, and build institutions without fear. But this freedom may have bred complacency. Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka reflects this concern, saying, “We’ve built temples, but have we built disciples? We are called to be prophetic voices, not just organisers of ceremonies. If all we do is prepare pilgrimages, we’ve missed the point.”
Religious observers agree that while Uganda’s Church is booming institutionally, it risks stagnating spiritually. The rituals are grand, but the sacrifices are fewer. Akatukunda doesn’t hold back: “You can’t invoke the Martyrs every year without asking what they would say about your silence today. Would they celebrate full cathedrals filled with complacent Christians? Would they praise bishops who fear political disapproval more than they fear betraying the Gospel?”
Even as churches prepare for yet another Martyrs Day, some clergy are urging for soul-searching over celebration. Rev. James Luwum, who chairs the Namugongo Anglican venue committee, calls for deep reflection. “This year, don’t just remember the Martyrs. Resemble them,” he urges. For him, the true pilgrimage happens in the heart, not just on the road to Namugongo.
Unless Uganda repents, renews its spiritual fire, and resists injustice, the Church risks becoming a well-decorated monument to its own forgotten mission. One pilgrim, lighting a candle last year, put it bluntly: “If the Martyrs came back today, I wonder if they’d recognise us at all.”
Because if Uganda is truly the land of the Martyrs, then it must prove it — not with crowds or buildings, but with truth, justice, and courage. Without that, the Church may continue to march — but only backward.
