False apparitions at Namugongo: Pilgrims report sighting Virgin Mary

Before the start of Mass at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo on Tuesday, a number of pilgrims claimed to have witnessed miraculous apparitions in the sky, claims that sparked both excitement and scepticism among the crowd.

As thousands gathered in prayer for the Martyrs’ Day celebrations, some pilgrims shouted that they had seen visions of the Virgin Mary, while others said the sun appeared to be shining in an array of colours.

“I have seen Mama Maria!” one pilgrim exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion as others joined in, waving their hands toward the sky and falling into deep prayer, some even moved to tears. Others, however, strained their eyes but saw nothing unusual. The scene quickly became chaotic as some ululated, stood up in unison, and gestured skyward in hopes of seeing the reported phenomenon.

Still, many remained unconvinced. “I see nothing,” one pilgrim remarked, while murmurs of disbelief rippled through the congregation. This is not the first time such claims have emerged during this year’s pilgrimage. Similar reports of apparitions ranging from radiant crosses in the sky to visions of the Virgin Mary, have surfaced in recent days from different groups of pilgrims.

Interestingly, while the crowd reacted with a mix of awe and confusion, priests and other religious leaders, dressed in red chasubles behind the altar, remained calm and focused, continuing with the liturgy as planned.

Similar claims have been made in previous years. In 2024, Catholic faithful reported sightings of apparitions in places such as Nalyamagonja-Manyangwa in Gayaza and Hoima district, drawing both local curiosity and religious fervour.

In Catholic tradition, such visions are known as Marian apparitions reported appearances of the Virgin Mary that are often believed to bring messages of encouragement, repentance, or divine intervention.

One of the most renowned of these is the 1917 apparition in Fátima, Portugal, where three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto claimed to have seen Mary six times. The event, accompanied by mass pilgrimages and miracle reports, was later deemed “worthy of belief” by the Vatican.

In Africa, the most widely recognised apparition occurred in Kibeho, Rwanda, in the 1980s, where three girls reported visions of Mary calling for prayer and repentance. One of the visions reportedly foretold the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

While the Catholic Church acknowledges the role such events play in deepening faith, it does not require believers to accept them. In May 2024, the Vatican updated its procedures for handling alleged supernatural phenomena through a document titled “Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena.”

According to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, only the Pope can officially declare an apparition as supernatural. Initial assessments are handled by local bishops following a structured process to ensure the theological and psychological soundness of the reported events.

As mass resumed at Namugongo despite the claims, Church leaders appeared committed to focusing on the spiritual significance of the day, rather than being drawn into premature interpretations of the alleged sightings.