Beyond Namugongo: Uganda’s Hidden Martyrs’ Trail Seeks to Put Religious Tourism on Global Map

What the report says

Uganda is promoting a broader religious tourism route beyond the well-known Namugongo pilgrimage grounds, focusing on smaller Martyrs’ sites linked to Catholic figures killed in the 1880s. According to Nile Post, church leaders and local communities want more investment in infrastructure so these places can preserve history, draw pilgrims and generate income for nearby households and businesses. The article highlights sites in Kyenjojo, Masaka and Kyotera as part of this emerging “Martyrs’ trail.”

One key location is the St Adolf Tibeyalirwa Ludigo shrine at Katoosa Parish in Kyenjojo District, which is described as the martyr’s birthplace. The site has hosted pilgrimages for decades and now attracts visitors from Uganda, neighbouring countries and Europe. It is also gaining attention for natural features such as rocks tied to local tradition, including one nicknamed the “Martyrs’ Drum.” With support from the Ministry of Tourism, a modern prayer pavilion is under construction and is expected to hold more than 30,000 people during major gatherings.

The report also points to St Bruno Sserunkuma Saza Parish in Masaka and Birinzi, believed to be the birthplace of St Charles Lwanga. Both sites hold annual pilgrimages and are being developed as places of prayer and heritage. Local leaders hope monuments, water projects and other facilities will help protect these histories while benefiting surrounding communities through jobs, transport, food and lodging.