The African martyrs

We honor today the Uganda martyrs, 13 Catholic converts burned alive in 1886. In total, 22 Catholic martyrs were canonized in 1964 by Pope St. Paul VI, turning their sacrifice into a powerful symbol of faith and endurance across Africa. The Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo has become more than a place of remembrance. It is now a living sanctuary of intercession, where the prayers of millions are offered not in blood, but in whispered hopes, folded notes, and phone screens. This shrine witnessed a surge of prayer requests from across East Africa and beyond. Pilgrims, particularly Catholic sisters, are transforming the site into a center for collective spiritual petition, carrying the burdens of families, communities and entire nations. One sister who visited the shrine said "I brought prayer requests from people who couldn't make the journey — families praying for peace in their homes, for children to pass exams or overcome addiction. I'm also praying for my own family and for strength in my vocation. I believe God already knows what's written on these papers." To accommodate the rising number of prayer petitions, the shrine has set up a designated prayer tent near Martyrs' Lake. Pilgrims can write intentions in multiple languages — including English, Swahili, Luganda and even Braille — while volunteers and clergy read them during adoration and Mass. Pilgrims often speak of answered prayers: healing from illness, jobs secured, family reconciliation.