Ugandans will still enjoy June 3, 2026 as a public holiday for Martyrs’ Day, but the massive pilgrimage to Namugongo has been suspended over Ebola fears. In a statement dated May 18, 2026, the Uganda Media Centre boss confirmed that Martyrs’ Day remains on the national calendar as a public holiday. The clarification was signed […]
Ugandans will still enjoy June 3, 2026 as a public holiday for Martyrs’ Day, but the massive pilgrimage to Namugongo has been suspended over Ebola fears.
In a statement dated May 18, 2026, the Uganda Media Centre boss confirmed that Martyrs’ Day remains on the national calendar as a public holiday. The clarification was signed by Executive Director Alan Kasujja.
However, government, religious leaders and health authorities have agreed to postpone all physical pilgrimage activities to Namugongo, citing the risk of Ebola spreading across borders.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said in a previous statement that the decision followed consultations with health experts and faith leaders, warning that Uganda remains exposed due to heavy movement of pilgrims from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an outbreak has been reported.
“This decision was made because Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak,” Museveni said, urging those already traveling to turn back immediately.
The decision affects the annual religious gathering at Namugongo, which normally attracts tens of thousands of Catholic, Anglican and other Christian pilgrims from across Africa.
Health authorities say the move is aimed at stopping a possible cross-border spread of the virus, especially with cases reported in areas of eastern DRC near Uganda’s border.
The World Health Organization has also raised concern over the outbreak, following reports of deaths and suspected infections in affected regions. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported over 80 deaths and around 246 suspected cases since the disease outbreak. The country faces a rare Bundibugyo strain, majority of cases and fatalities are in Ituri Province.
In Uganda, one confirmed death linked to an imported case from DRC. At least 2 confirmed cases overall reported, including the fatal imported case in Kampala
Despite the cancellation of mass pilgrimage, government insists June 3 remains a public holiday, but this year, celebrations will be subdued and strictly controlled as Uganda stays on high alert.
