Two armed terrorists nearly caused a massacre at this Ugandan shrine, located in the African capital, on June 3rd.
Tens of thousands of faithful had gathered there to celebrate the feast of the country's martyrs. At the very same moment, the attackers, armed and riding a motorcycle, headed toward the basilica.
The terrorists were only about 600 meters away when an army anti-terrorism unit intercepted them. A shootout followed, triggering an explosion that killed both attackers.
According to a colonel from the defense forces on social media, one of the attackers was a female suicide bomber carrying explosives. Remarkably, however, none of the faithful were injured.
For Christians in Uganda, Martyrs’ Day is one of the most important days. It commemorates a group killed for their faith, whom Pope Paul VI canonized in 1964.
In fact, Pope Francis visited Uganda in 2015 and prayed at the site where the martyrs were killed. Their witness earned them the nickname, “Heroes of the Faith.”
CA
Trans. CRT
