Fifteen kilometers east of Kampala city lie the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine where both catholic and Anglican martyrs were burnt alive on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II in June 1886. Consequently on 3rd June of every year Christians from all over the world flock to Namugongo to pay their respects and renew their faith by paying pilgrimage to the martyrs.

The monumental church is in the shape of a traditional hut. It stands on 22 copper pillars representing the 22 catholic martyrs; the church was consecrated by Pope Paul VI on 2nd August 1969.