Namugongo Basilica is located approximately 17.5 kilometres (11 mi), by road, northeast of the central business district of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city in that East African country.

[2] The Namugongo Shrines were first recognised by the Late Joshua Serufusa-Zake (1884 - 25 June 1985) when he was the Sabaddu of Kira Sub-County (1827 - 1928).

It might be of interest to note that Joshua Serufusa-Zake was born in 1884, just a year before the killings of Uganda Martyrs started.

[8] 2014 marked fifty years since the Uganda Martyrs were canonized and elevated to Sainthood by Pope Paul VI on 18 October 1964.

The occasion was marked by a memorial Mass at the Basilica and Pope Francis was expected to be the main celebrant.