The Islamic religion started in 1844 by Arabs 30 years before the Christianity and Kabaka Mutesa I had declared it a national language. The Martyrs were made to go through a long torturous journey to Namugongo while being pulled on their backs the name Namugongo.
The name Namugongo originated from carrying the martyrs on the back up to Kisalusalu where they were burnt to ashes (execution) by the chief prosecutor, Mukajanga on the orders of Kabaka Muwanga.
According to Hajji Sulaiman Musana Muwanguzi, the Coordinator of Muslims in Uganda, so far, the Muslim Martyrs’ known number is about 103. However, some historians have put the number to between 70 and 100.
The Muslim Martyrs’ death begun in 1874-1876, and were killed in pairs in a range of nine days, according to Hajji Musana.
He added that the Muslim Martyrs were tied up and would be burnt starting with the legs with an intention that they would denounce religion (their faith and God). But those who declined were burnt to ashes amidst piercing them with sharp spears.
Commemorating the martyrs
Hajji Musana said that, it is in 1968 when the Muslims started to remember the Muslim Martyrs, and on June 1, 2023, they had marked 179 years 0f Islam in Uganda and 51 years of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council under the theme; “Unity and Development for Sustainable Achievement.”
Hajji Musana revealed that, while both the Ugandan Catholic and Anglican churches mark June 3, in ceremony and prayer in commemoration of the death of the martyrs, Muslims only hold a Dua prayer on 1st of June because Islam was the first religion in Uganda, and were the first to be killed. Muslim don’t do trekking to Namugongo but only commemorate the day in remembrance of the Muslim Martyrs because they only trek to Makkah and Madina.
He added that, the Christian Martyrs were executed 30 years after Muslim martyrs had already been killed from the current Anglican Martyrs Museum.
In 1979, the then built Mosque that was built with mud in remembrance of the Martyrs was burnt by Obote II soldiers during a war to overthrow Idi Amin Dada and desecrated it by slaughtering several pigs in it.
According to Hajji Muwanguzi, it was in 1986 when the NRM government came to power that sanity came in the country and the Muslim community.
Land was acquired just opposite the present Anglican Church Martyrs, and a foundation was laid for a mosque. A small mosque made of mud and iron sheets was built at the site, to correspond with the Christian martyrs celebrations that year.
