VIRTUAL MARTYRS DAY! No Pilgrims, Fewer Voices As Ebola Shrinks Namugongo Choir From 600 Singers To Just 30

Organisers of the Anglican Martyrs Day celebration have drastically reduced the number of singers for the event to be held virtually following the Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda and the DRC.

A choir that was expected to feature 600 choir members s during this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo has been reduced to only 30 singers.

Organizers from Uganda Christian University (UCU), which is leading this year’s Anglican Martyrs Day celebrations, said the scaled-down choir will comprise selected representatives from Kisasi Church of Uganda, St. Francis Chapel, and Uganda Christian University.

Speaking during a press briefing at UCU Tuesday, Professor Dr. John Kitayimbwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and chairperson of the organizing committee, said the university had originally planned a massive choir bringing together worshippers from various regions and church institutions across the country.

“This year, we were thinking about a choir of 600 young men and women to sing. Uganda Christian University was working with regional colleges and campuses, together with other choirs,” Prof. Kitayimbwa said.

He added, “But because this is now a broadcast service, we have chosen representation from the different groups, and the choir is going to be only 30 people.”

Despite the reduction, Prof. Kitayimbwa said organizers are confident the worship experience will remain powerful and spiritually uplifting.

“These are some of the best worshippers we have in the country, and we believe the singing and celebration will be just as good as if we had the 600 worshippers,” he noted.

The announcement comes as Uganda Christian University confirmed that this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo will be conducted virtually due to the Ebola situation in the country and government restrictions on mass gatherings.

Bishop Professor Alfred Olwa, the Chairperson of the Uganda Christian University Governing Council, said the institution is fully prepared for the June 3 celebrations, which will be led by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu.

“The service tomorrow will be virtual. There will be a very small group on site, and the rest of Ugandans will worship from wherever they are,” Bishop Olwa said.

He emphasized that no pilgrims will be allowed access to Namugongo and urged Christians to follow the service through television, radio, and online platforms from their homes or local churches.

“We are not organizing a pilgrimage. No one will be allowed to access Namugongo. We are not inviting people to crowd around the site,” Prof. Kitayimbwa stressed.

He also revealed that this year’s order of service and commemorative materials have been distributed digitally instead of in print to minimize physical contact and reduce the risk of Ebola transmission.

The virtual Martyrs Day service will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be broadcast live on several television stations, radio stations, and social media platforms.

Security around Namugongo has already been heightened, with organizers confirming that the site was closed to the public earlier this week and that only accredited personnel involved in the broadcast will be allowed entry.