By Our Reporter
As millions of pilgrims prepare to converge on Namugongo for the 2025 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has rolled out one of its most extensive traffic management operations in recent years.
In a detailed statement released Saturday, Traffic Police spokesperson ASP Michael Kananura outlined a complex web of road diversions, security zones, and access restrictions aimed at ensuring the safety of worshippers and the smooth movement of dignitaries and service providers attending the June 3rd event.
With Namugongo set to become the epicenter of religious observance and national attention, authorities are urging the public to plan meticulously—and expect significant disruptions.
Each year, Uganda Martyrs Day commemorates the sacrifice of 45 Christian converts executed for their faith between 1885 and 1887. The event has grown into one of the largest religious pilgrimages in Africa, attracting faithful from every region of Uganda and across the globe.
“Traffic management on this scale is a national operation,” said Kananura. “We appeal to all motorists, pilgrims, and service providers to adhere strictly to the guidelines. Cooperation is key.”
Key Roads Closed, VIP Corridors Enforced, Public Transport Restricted
While the main Jinja–Kampala highway will remain open, access to Namugongo will be heavily controlled:
- Kireka–Kyaliwajjala Road will serve as a one-way corridor into the Martyrs Shrine area.
- Kyaliwajjala–Naalya Interchange will channel one-way flow toward Kyaliwajjala.
- The stretch between Kyaliwajjala Trading Centre and the Catholic shrine will be split: the right side reserved for pedestrians, the left strictly for VVIPS and emergency services.
VIPs, Pilgrims, and Foreign Delegates Face Strict Routing
VIPs and dignitaries with special red stickers will access the Catholic Church through Kyaliwajjala and Ssemambo Road, with parking provided at Namugongo Boarding Primary School. Those attending the Protestant Church will access via Bweyogerere–Butto–Kyobe Road and park at the Protestant Church farm.
Foreign pilgrims with blue stickers will be dropped at Kyaliwajjala Trading Centre, while their drivers park at Vienna College.
All medical and service delivery vehicles, designated by green and purple stickers respectively, must arrive before midnight. Any late arrivals will be denied access.
Pilgrims Warned: No Parking at Shrines, Plan Ahead
Authorities have issued stern warnings: no general public parking will be allowed at either the Catholic or Protestant shrines. Domestic pilgrims must use the following designated parking zones:
- From Northern Bypass: Hillside Nursery & Primary School
- From Ntinda, Kiwatule, Najjera, Kasangati: Kiira Town Council playground and Mayor’s Garden
- From the Eastern corridor: Protestant pilgrims will follow Seeta–Sonde–Bweyogerere–Butto–Kyobe and park at the Church Farm.
Tough Enforcement and Penalties Await Offenders
In a bid to enforce order, the Traffic Police have suspended all taxi operations in key areas such as Kyaliwajjala, Namugongo Road, Sonde Road, and Naalya. Unauthorized taxis will be impounded on sight, and abandoned vehicles will be towed at the owner’s cost with added penalties.
Only vehicles with official stickers will be allowed beyond designated checkpoints.
Kananura’s message was as much spiritual as it was logistical.
“This day is about sacrifice and unity. Let us show it in our conduct,” he said. “We wish all a safe and blessed Martyrs Day celebration.”
As Uganda marks this sacred moment in its religious and cultural calendar, authorities hope the nation’s collective discipline will match the devotion of the millions honoring the memory of the Martyrs — and ensure that faith, not chaos, defines the day.