Why You Should Start Holy Week at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo .

A Pilgrimage for the Soul and the Earth, by Davis Owomugisha 

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday,  the beginning of Holy Week, a sacred journey that leads us through the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, His suffering, death, and glorious resurrection. As Christians around the world wave palm branches, we remember the palms that welcomed Christ, symbols of peace, hope, and surrender.

But here in Uganda, Palm Sunday holds even deeper meaning when connected to the ground where faith was tested and lives were poured out like living prayers.

 That sacred ground is Namugongo  the place where the Martyrs of Uganda gave everything rather than deny Christ. 

In the late 19th century, in the heart of Buganda, young men, servants, pages, and soldiers  embraced Christianity even when it meant defying the king’s orders. They were arrested, beaten, and forced to walk from Munyonyo to Namugongo, over long, dusty miles of land where trees stood tall and skies were wide. 

Just as Jesus carried His cross, these faithful believers carried their endless devotion, step by painful step, toward death. On June 3rd, 1886, 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican martyrs were burned alive for choosing faith over fear. That fire, meant to destroy them, instead lit hearts across continents. 

As we wave palm branches, imagine those same palms waving over the feet of the martyrs as they walked. Imagine the breeze through the trees that once shaded their path. These aren’t just symbols, they are reminders that faith was carried, grounded, and planted on this land.

Palm Sunday invites us to remember a different kind of entry not into glory, but into faithful obedience amidst suffering. Namugongo stands as a living echo of that invitation.

Today, we also face another kind of journey, the journey of our planet. 

Climate change is no longer distant lore. Our forests are thinning, seasons grow unpredictable, rivers ebb and flood in unfamiliar rhythms. We are asked not only to remember meaningfully, but to act responsibly.

Just as those young Christians once walked long miles under the sun, our future generations will walk these same lands — and they deserve trees, clean air, and a thriving world. What the Martyrs showed us — courage rooted in faith — is the same courage we must now bring to protect creation. The same palms that welcomed Jesus can also remind us to value the earth He breathed into life.

Why Begin Holy Week at Namugongo?

Here’s why Namugongo matters for every believer, not just those who come for Martyrs’ Day:

It connects us to real sacrifice — not abstract ideals. The Martyrs lived, walked, and gave their lives here. 

It roots Holy Week in heartfelt remembrance. Palm Sunday isn’t distant history — it’s a living, breathing call to faithfulness.

It reminds us of resurrection power. A place once soaked in pain now blossoms with life and pilgrim song.

It calls us to protect the earth. If young believers could mount courage against suffering, surely we can rise against climate destruction.

Whether you walk the long road in person, or carry Namugongo in your heart, let this Holy Week be a pilgrimage of purpose:

— Walk with Jesus in your prayer.

— Walk toward compassion for creation.

— Walk with the courage of the Martyrs who chose truth over comfort.

Let the palms we raise tomorrow be not only a remembrance of Jesus’ welcome, but a promise of hope, responsibility, and renewal — for our souls, our land, and our world.