UGANDA: UEC Get Set for Uganda Martyrs Celebrations

Uganda Martyrs Basilica

The Uganda
Episcopal Conference (UEC) is making final touches of the preparations for the Uganda
Martyrs Day Celebrations that will be held on the 3rd of June at
Namugongo Shrine in Kampala.

 

According to
Fr. Philip Odii, the UEC National Communications Secretary, pilgrims from
various countries have already started arriving at the Shrine.

 

“This year’s
celebrations are led by the Diocese of Kotido and over one million people are
expected to attend including the president of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” he said.

 

Fr. Odii said
that the main concern of the conference during this year’s celebration is
security for all participants. “The conference has held numerous meetings with
the top security agents in the country including the Uganda Police General and
so far, the anti-terrorists police are already patrolling the venue of the
celebrations at Namugongo Shrine and its environs,” he said.

 

Fr. Philip
said that the security officers has advised them to tell people to be vigilant
and should report any suspicious people or items.

 

The security
alert is coming amid terrorism attack threats from Somali’s Al Shabaab
militants, targeting the countries that have sent their military personnel to
Somalia to fight along with the AMISOM. Uganda being one of those countries is
perceived to be one of the targets.