By Timothy Okurut
The Government of Uganda has postponed this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations following the outbreak of Ebola in neighboring Congo. The announcement was made through an official letter signed by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, citing public health concerns and the need to protect Ugandans from the possible spread of the deadly virus.
According to the statement, the decision was reached after consultations with the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities, who advised against large public gatherings during the current health threat of Ebola.
As a result of Museveni’s directive, the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Communications Department today released a statement saying that the university management will guide on the next steps, in light of the fact that UCU is expected to lead this year’s celebrations at the Anglican Site in Namugongo.
Martyrs Day, which is usually celebrated annually on June 3rd at Namugongo, is one of the biggest annual religious gatherings in Africa, and attracts thousands of pilgrims from across the world. Museveni noted that while the celebrations remain an important religious and cultural event, the safety and well-being of citizens must take priority. “We cannot risk the lives of Ugandans and visitors during this period of heightened health concerns,” the statement read in part.
The Ministry of Health has also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, observe health guidelines, and report any suspected Ebola symptoms to nearby health facilities. This outbreak of Ebola is being facilitated by the Bundibugyo strain, which is one of five variants of Ebola.
The variant has had two outbreaks in the past, the first in Bundibugyo district between 2007 and 2008, which reported 149 cases with 37 deaths. In 2012, the second outbreak occurred in 2012 in the DRC with 57 cases being reported against 29 fatalities.
The government is expected to announce new dates for the celebrations once the Ebola situation is fully contained and health authorities confirm that it is safe to hold mass gatherings again.
