Thousands of pilgrims attending mass at Ugandan Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, June 3, 2019 d.lubowajpg

The annual Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations, which usually attract South Sudanese faithful alongside thousands of other pilgrims from across the region, have been suspended following an outbreak of Ebola.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced the suspension yesterday, citing the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda and neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

President Museveni said the decision is aimed at preventing large gatherings that could accelerate the spread of the deadly virus.

Uganda Martyrs’ Day commemorates the execution of 45 Christian converts between 1885 and 1887 under the reign of Kabaka Mwanga II. The annual event is marked every 3 June at the Namugongo Catholic and Anglican shrines near Kampala.

The celebrations usually draw thousands of pilgrims from across the region, including South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Last week, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared an outbreak of the deadly viral disease in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to Africa CDC, there are around 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths as of Friday.

In Uganda, the disease has so far killed one person, a Congolese national in Kampala.