UGA: Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs

Naalya-Namugongo Rd, Kampala, Uganda
Daily: 8.30am - 6.00pm

Blessed Easter, everyone! Today's post is on the Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs located in the Namugongo district that's approximately 14 km away from the central business district of Kampala. The Roman Catholic minor basilica is one of the largest Christian pilgrimage destinations in Africa.

I recall the journey from Baha'i House of Worship took about 25 minutes. Our driver was also interested to visit the site, so he paid UGX 5,000 (~S$1.80) as a local. On the other hand, my BFF and I had to pay double of that each as foreigners, i.e. UGX 10,000 (~S$3.60).

Upon paying for the tickets, we were greeted by one of the guides at the site. First of all, we were brought to a place with a few statues where we listened to the story of how a group of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts were executed under the order of King Mwanga II in the kingdom of Buganda in the past.

One of the most notable martrys, Andrew Kaggwa is the patron of catechists, teachers and families.

"Ave Maria gratia plena ... Ave ave dominus, dominus tecum~"

The construction of the minor basilica took three years from 1965 to 1968.

The building consists of 22 seamless steel pillars, each representing one of the Catholic martyrs. 

The Catholic martrys were either burned or hacked to death.

I felt the interior being enveloped with an aura of serenity. Before taking some photos, we prayed for the martyrs.

The diameter of the circular basilica is 42 m.

It can accommodate up to approximately 1,000 people.

Beneath the mahogany wood altar is a relic that symbolises martyrdom.
It's the exact spot where Charles Lwanga, one of the Catholic martyrs, was burned alive.

I tried to take one panorama shot. Try clicking on the photo below. 

We moved to the amphitheatre, followed by taking a stroll around the man-made lake and the pavilion.

Three popes have led three separate masses there:
Pope Paul VI in 1969, Pope John Paul II in 1993 and Pope Francis in 2015.

The deepest point of the lake is approximately 3 m.

Before leaving the site, we filled in a survey form at the office. I also flipped through a book on the history of Uganda.

Above the entrance gate is where snipers are deployed as part of security measures during a major event.

The year 2014 marked 50 years since the Cathloic martyrs were canonised and elevated to sainthood, but it was only in 2015 that Pope Francis made his papal visit there, in addition to Kenya and Central African Republic.