Health Ministry Deploys 200 Medical Personnel for Uganda Martyrs Day Pilgrimage
The Ministry of Health has announced the deployment of over 200 medical and health personnel to support this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, set to take place on June 3 at the Namugongo shrines.
The move is part of a wider preparedness plan to ensure the safety and well-being of thousands of pilgrims expected to converge on the holy site from across the country and beyond.
The ministry, working in partnership with various health agencies and organizations, says the medical team will be stationed at strategic points around both the Catholic and Anglican shrines in Namugongo.
They will provide first aid, emergency response, and basic medical services throughout the pilgrimage period.
In addition to the medical personnel, the ministry has also deployed 40 ambulances equipped with emergency care kits to facilitate quick referrals to nearby hospitals in case of serious health incidents.
Temporary clinics and mobile health units have also been set up along major pilgrimage routes to attend to foot pilgrims en route to Namugongo.
This year’s celebration is expected to draw one of the largest crowds in recent years, with international pilgrims from neighboring countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Health Ministry says its planning is aligned with national and international public health protocols to ensure no lives are lost due to preventable conditions.
The deployment forms part of a broader inter-agency strategy that includes sanitation, clean water supply, and disease surveillance to protect pilgrims from potential outbreaks or health hazards during the event.
Uganda Martyrs Day commemorates the execution of 45 Christian converts between 1885 and 1887 by the then Buganda Kingdom.
The annual event is one of the most significant religious gatherings in the region, attracting millions of faithful each year.
With just days left until June 3, the Ministry of Health is urging pilgrims to carry personal medication where necessary, stay hydrated, and promptly report any signs of illness to the nearest medical point.
