Thousands of pilgrims mark Martyrs Day in Uganda
Some pilgrims stayed up all night, keeping vigil near the martyrs' shrines.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
Thousands of pilgrims are attending an open-air ritual to commemorate Uganda Martyrs Day at Namugongo shrine near Kampala, Uganda's capital.
The Catholic shrine honors 19th-century Christians who were killed for their religion.
Some pilgrims stayed up all night, keeping vigil near the martyrs' shrines.
President Yoweri Museveni wished the pilgrims a safe journey and posted a snapshot of the location:
The annual festival attracts a large number of Catholics from across the country and East Africa. The event this year is the first since the country's first Coronavirus case was verified in July 2020.
Security has been ramped up on the roads leading to the Namugongo shrine, according to local media.
Pictures from the occasion have been tweeted by the Daily Monitor newspaper:
