THE UGANDA MARTYRS DAY CELEBRATION WAS LARGELY PEACEFUL AND SUCCESSFUL

The Leadership of the Joint Security Agencies would like to once again, applaud all security personnel and stakeholders, who in their areas of responsibility, enabled a very peaceful, safe and secure, Uganda Martyrs Day Celebration in Namugongo, Nakiyanja and at Mamre Prayer Center. From a security point of view, the Martyrs Day Celebrati-ons, were very successful. Our special thanks go to H.E. The President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady, Mama Janet Kataha Museveni, for the massive support and contribution to the organizers and for their full participation as Chief Guests. More than 3.5 million participants were effectively secured, including foreign Christian delegations from the DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, Ethiopia, India, Japan, USA, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

We continue to thank the organizers at the Catholic Site, Anglican Site and at Mamre Prayer Center. From the Catholic Site, we thank the main celebrant His Grace Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, the Archbishop elect of Gulu Archdiocese and former Bishop, Nebbi Diocese. At the Anglican Shrine, we do thank Dr. Henry Ndukuba, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, who led the celebrations. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu, was the keynote speaker. At Mamre Prayer Center, the prayers were led by Rt. Rev. Bishop Kibuuka Jacinto.

Our special thanks also go to Mama Maria Nyerere (former First Lady of Tanzania), Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabanja, Rt. Hon. Annet Anitah Among, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi, Hon. David Bahati, Hon, Jimmy Akena, Hon. Margret Muhanga Musigha, all other Ministers, Members of Parliament, Cultural Leaders, Members of the Clergy, other dignitaries and invitees, who graced and participated in the popular religious pilgrimage.

We do further thank the leadership of Kiira Municipality, the local community in Namugongo and the surrounding areas, the LCs, friends of police like Sheikh Umaru Yusuf Sekagya, who availed space at Munawala mosque, for all your level of patient and welcoming spirit. And to all the pilgrims who trekked the long distances from Kenya, DRC, Rwanda and Nebbi, Gulu, Kisoro, Rubanda, Bukwo, Tororo, Kasese, Bunyangabo, to renew their faith. We congratulate them all.

A total of 415 suspects were arrested, out of whom, 165, were screened out for court. In addition, 38 children were reported missing, out of whom 29, were re-united with their parents. 9 children are still being kept at the Child and Family Center at Namugongo Police Station, as efforts to reunite them with their parents are ongoing.

The Joint Security Personnel were very alert and professional, in the many roles they carried out, before, during and after the pilgrimage. The full team effort include; SFC, UPDF, Prisons, Joint Intelligence Teams of ISO, CMI, ESO and CI, the UPF Units of General Duties, Field Force Unit, CID, Fire and Rescue, Traffic, Airwing, Forensic, K9, Intergrated Highway Patrol, Public Relations and Chief Political Commissariat, Police Health Services, The Red Cross and the media.

The fact that our policing philosophy of working together is always successful, we shall continue with the same approach to make our country, a nicer, safe place to live in and also visit. Once again, it was a great for the Joint Security Agencies and all stakeholders to deliver a peaceful, sage and secure, religious pilgrimage, in commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs.

SCP Enanga Fred

Police Spokesperson

4th June 2024