President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised to set up a Muslims Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo. The shrine is aimed at recognising the 12 Muslim Martyrs who were killed before their counterparts, the Anglican and Catholic converts.
They were killed in 1875 on orders of orders of Kabaka Muteesa I, Mwanga’s father, because of professing Islam. The deaths took place at a time when there was a three-way religious struggle for political influence at the Buganda royal court.
In his message delivered by John Mitala, the Head of Public and Secretary to Cabinet at Anglican Martyrs’ shrine in Namugongo, Museveni said that Government will set up a Muslim Martyrs site at Namugongo to honour the 12 Muslim Martyrs.
“I wish to highlight what I shared with Muslim brothers when I hosted them during the end of Ramadan this year. Since they are not able to celebrate the heroic act of faith of their Muslim Martyrs, government is going to work with them to establish a Muslim Martyrs site at Namugongo,” he said.
Museveni said; “We are working with Muslim leadership to document the story of the Muslim Martyrs and see how this can be actualized.”
