Uganda to Commemorate Muslim Martyrs’ Day on June 10: A Historical Milestone
By John Kusolo
Uganda will formally commemorate the Muslim martyrs' day, recognizing the sacrifices of the first Muslim converts in the Buganda kingdom. The event, which will be observed annually on June 10, marks a significant step in acknowledging a largely overlooked chapter of Ugandan history.
According to Prof. Badru Kateregga, the chairperson of the Uganda Martyrs Development Committee, the date was chosen in agreement with the leadership of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC). The commemoration, originally planned for June 1, was moved to seven days after the Christian martyrs' day, celebrated on June 3, a public holiday in Uganda.
“Muslims were the first Ugandans to be martyred way back in 1875. However, they are little known. It has taken us 15 years to raise awareness about the Muslim martyrs because Muslims didn’t write their history,” Prof. Kateregga said during a press conference at his residence in Buziga near Kampala.
The martyrs in question were 45 young men executed in 1875 on the orders of King Muteesa I of Buganda after they rejected the worship of traditional Buganda deities in favor of Islam. This year’s commemorative activities will begin with prayers at the Shuhadah mosque in Namugongo on June 8 and culminate at the UMSC headquarters in Old Kampala on June 10. The event will also coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UMSC.
Prof. Kateregga emphasized the importance of this commemoration for fostering awareness about the historical sacrifices of Ugandan Muslims. "We shall follow the trail of the Muslim Martyrs before concluding with a massive event at the national mosque on June 10," he stated. "This event is meant to create awareness about the many Muslims who were martyred in this country."
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