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Preparations underway at the Catholic Shrines where the church will over 1,400 foreign guests.
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The Catholic Church in Uganda is to host over 1,400 international pilgrims, who have so far registered to attend this year’s Uganda Martyrs day celebrations.
Data obtained from the Catholic Secretariat at Nsambya revealed that registration of foreign pilgrims is ongoing, and that over 1,400 pilgrims from different countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, had registered by Wednesday.
“This is not the final list; the number keeps on changing every time. So far, over 1,400 pilgrims have registered and many more are expected,” an official from the secretariat said.
The foreign pilgrims are coming from countries including Denmark, US, Argentina, Italy, Mozambique, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, Australia, South-Africa, Germany, Canada, France, Malawi, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda Burundi, Nigeria and Tanzania.
This came after the church announced that international pilgrims who will attend the annual Uganda Martyrs Day at Namugongo on June 3, will have to be registered and recognized as part of the organisation activities.
The secretariat said in a statement said; "we have many people who understand different languages like Swahili, French, German and other languages from neighboring countries who work hand in hand to help the foreign pilgrims in each and everything."
The annual event commemorates the heroic 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs, who were killed by burning and beheading for their faith on orders of Kabaka Mwanga between 1885 and 1887.
The 22 Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV. They were declared saints on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI.
The celebrations organisers
Nebbi diocese has been chosen to lead the forthcoming Uganda Martyrs day celebrations this year on June 3.
The chairperson of the organising committee of the hosting diocese, Catherine Mavenjina Akumu, the media after a meeting at Namugongo on Wednesday that preparations are in high gear to ensure that the celebrations are held in the most dignified, appropriate and deserving manner that gives God all the highest praise.
Organisers doing what it takes to ensure the place is clean for prayers on 3rd June.
The celebrations are usually organised on a rotational basis according to the four ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Church.
A total of 724 pilgrims from Nebbi, the hosting diocese, arrived at Namugongo on Wednesday, May 29 after trekking 450 kilometres. They started their journey on May 15, 2024, at Uganda Martyrs Chapel Namrwodho in Nebbi Cathedral Parish.
Meanwhile, Fr. Nerris Oyirwoth, a member of the organising committee, revealed that besides the foot pilgrims, a total of 2,102 other pilgrims from Nabbi diocese are expected to attend this year’s Martyr’s Day celebration at Namugongo.
This year’s celebrations will be held under the theme “for me, and my household we shall serve the Lord,” taken from the book of Joshua, (24:15).
Namugongo priest, security
Fr Vincent Lubega, the parish priest of Namugongo Martyrs shrine, said Christians around the world are in the midst of a nine-day prayer for the Martyrs. He said this started a Novena and prayers that will culminate into the celebration of the Martyrs Day on June 3.
According to Lubega, there are normally masses, worshipping and offerings at the Martyrs shrine in Namugongo.
Also, security has been beefed up at Namugongo (both at the Anglican site and at the Catholic shrine), with police backed by the army and other security agencies including non-uniformed officers deployed to thwart any insecurity.
