A pilgrim died while traveling over 290 kilometers to attend the Martyrs’ Day celebrations on June 3 in Namugongo, Wakiso District, officials confirmed.

The incident occurred as the pilgrim, identified as Ronald Ojok, was part of a group of approximately 250 individuals journeying from Gulu, Northern Uganda.

Simon Peter Wokorach, the lawmaker for Aswa County, stated that Ojok began feeling ill near Luwero District and was subsequently taken to Emus Health Centre II, where he was diagnosed with malaria.

“On a sad note, we lost a young man who passed away from Janani Luwum Memorial Secondary School, Bombo campus in Bombo, where we had camped for a night. He died at around midday on Monday,” the legislator narrated.

Despite efforts by medical personnel from Bombo Hospital, Ojok passed away.

“After receiving the medication, he improved and we came with him up to our camp at Janani Luwum memorial school in Bombo. While at the camp, the condition worsened. He started vomiting and convulsing and passed on a few minutes past midday,” he added.

Wokorach said the medical team from Bombo Hospital rushed to the scene and took the body to the health facility’s mortuary for postmortem.

“He was a hero and martyr who died while embracing his faith,” said 65-year-old Gulu pilgrim Aketo Anjuleta.

Tentative funeral plans show Ojok will be buried June 5 in his ancestral Koch-lii Village in Nwoya District.

Over 2.5 million people, most of them trekkers from Uganda and neighbouring East African countries, are expected to grace this year’s Martyr’s Day.

The day is commemorated in memory of 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts executed on the orders of Kabaka (King) Mwanga between 1885 and 1887.

According to Wokorach, the body was still at the mortuary and expected to be transported to Nwoya District on June 3.