Kampala — The more Christians are persecuted and killed the more the church grows, the Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi has said.

Prof. Nsibambi was speaking at Martyr's Day prayers at the Anglican Shrine in Namugongo yesterday.

He said the Uganda martyrs had raised the country's profile.

"Our martyrs in the 19th century have been a great spiritual export commodity for Uganda which must be appreciated," he said.

Bishop Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Church of the United States, who was the main celebrant, said that the death of the young martyrs had bestowed great prestige upon Uganda.

Bishop Griswold said that Kabaka Mwanga's threat of death failed to have the young pages renounce their newly found faith.

He said that the young boys had become a threat to tyrants.

"I am, however, surprised that the brutality which was used to kill these young men still exists in the northern part of Uganda," he said.

Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda had the new followers of the Christian faith, most of them boys serving his court, killed by burning in the 1880s.

It is these followers, who died in their tens, who are now revered as the Uganda martyrs.

Bishop Griswold lauded the Church of Uganda for the caring attitude toward people with HIV/Aids and orphans.

He condemned terrorists whose only pleasure was in killing innocent people.

This year's celebrations were organised by the Northern Uganda and Kitgum dioceses.