UGANDA: President Museveni Presides over Ground Breaking Ceremony for Re-Development of Uganda Martyrs Shrine
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| President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with Most Rev Ciprian Kizito Lwanga (left) |
President
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda on Sunday 14th
December, 2014, presided over the grand ground-breaking ceremony for the re-development
of the Uganda Martyrs Shrines at Namugongo.
Addressing the
crowd that attended the ceremony, the President Museveni said that the
government has over the years been using Church Land without paying anything;
he therefore promised that the government will pay the money to the Catholic
Church so that it may help in this noble project.
crowd that attended the ceremony, the President Museveni said that the
government has over the years been using Church Land without paying anything;
he therefore promised that the government will pay the money to the Catholic
Church so that it may help in this noble project.
Archbishop
of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito-Lwanga, said that over the years, Namugongo has
deteriorated in terms of sitting capacity and other utilities, like toilets and
places of accommodation due to the overwhelming numbers of pilgrims that keep
increasing every year.
of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito-Lwanga, said that over the years, Namugongo has
deteriorated in terms of sitting capacity and other utilities, like toilets and
places of accommodation due to the overwhelming numbers of pilgrims that keep
increasing every year.
“The
activities surrounding the re-development are, therefore, part of the ongoing
improvement process of Namugongo shrine that aimed at marking of this year Golden
Jubilee of the canonization of the 22 Uganda Martyrs,” Archbishop Lwanga said.
activities surrounding the re-development are, therefore, part of the ongoing
improvement process of Namugongo shrine that aimed at marking of this year Golden
Jubilee of the canonization of the 22 Uganda Martyrs,” Archbishop Lwanga said.
He said that
with the ceremonies, they are appealing to local and international resource mobilization
groups to repair the shrine which is currently leaking. They also want to
construct multiple toilet facilities for the thousands of pilgrims, reconstruct
the shades around the man-made lake and to renovate the Alter sanctuary.
with the ceremonies, they are appealing to local and international resource mobilization
groups to repair the shrine which is currently leaking. They also want to
construct multiple toilet facilities for the thousands of pilgrims, reconstruct
the shades around the man-made lake and to renovate the Alter sanctuary.
They are
also to construct dormitories for the many pilgrims who travel long distances
and sleep in the open. They want to improve upon the terrace and pathways,
provide safe Uganda Martyrs’ drinking water for the pilgrims and; they would
also wish to construct a Uganda Martyrs’ museum and grottos for each Martyr.
also to construct dormitories for the many pilgrims who travel long distances
and sleep in the open. They want to improve upon the terrace and pathways,
provide safe Uganda Martyrs’ drinking water for the pilgrims and; they would
also wish to construct a Uganda Martyrs’ museum and grottos for each Martyr.
The Archbishop
also revealed that they want to purchase a public address system and screens to
enable visibility and audibility for the pilgrims to properly follow what would
be going on at the altar and activities elsewhere in the whole place.
also revealed that they want to purchase a public address system and screens to
enable visibility and audibility for the pilgrims to properly follow what would
be going on at the altar and activities elsewhere in the whole place.
They also
want to improve the security precautionary measures for all the pilgrims and
around whole place and; to improve upon the pastoral spiritual and health
services in whole place of martyrdom.
want to improve the security precautionary measures for all the pilgrims and
around whole place and; to improve upon the pastoral spiritual and health
services in whole place of martyrdom.
“In order to
ensure a smooth process, we have been assigned two missionaries of Africa to
help the coordination of the spiritual activities aimed at achieving our dream
of Namugongo.
ensure a smooth process, we have been assigned two missionaries of Africa to
help the coordination of the spiritual activities aimed at achieving our dream
of Namugongo.
Archbishop Lwanga
expressed gratitude to the Uganda Government, particularly to President
Museveni for accepting to officiate at the ground-breaking ceremony of
Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrines.
expressed gratitude to the Uganda Government, particularly to President
Museveni for accepting to officiate at the ground-breaking ceremony of
Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrines.
“I would
like to appeal to the nation to support this effort, because Namugongo is a
National Shrine of an international repute. It will benefit not only our
pilgrims, but also the tourism sector. It will enhance the evangelization of
the entire continent and the world at large. Ugandans are encouraged to
contribute generously towards this noble cause through the SMS platforms and
the various bank account numbers, which the steering committee will provide in
details soon,” the Archbishop urged.
like to appeal to the nation to support this effort, because Namugongo is a
National Shrine of an international repute. It will benefit not only our
pilgrims, but also the tourism sector. It will enhance the evangelization of
the entire continent and the world at large. Ugandans are encouraged to
contribute generously towards this noble cause through the SMS platforms and
the various bank account numbers, which the steering committee will provide in
details soon,” the Archbishop urged.
The project
is expected to cost the Catholic Church an estimated 36 billion Ugandan
Shillings (About 13 Million USD).
is expected to cost the Catholic Church an estimated 36 billion Ugandan
Shillings (About 13 Million USD).
Giving a
background of the project, he said that Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine was
started by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga in 1967 and; a corner stone was
laid in 1975 by a special papal envoy Sergio Cardinal Pignedoli.
background of the project, he said that Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine was
started by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga in 1967 and; a corner stone was
laid in 1975 by a special papal envoy Sergio Cardinal Pignedoli.
Namugongo
lie 15 km east of Kampala city off Jinja Road. It was a place of execution of
all people who committed grave offence in the Kingdom of Buganda. The Uganda
Martyrs both Catholics and Anglicans offered their lives to Christ and were
burnt alive on the orders of King Mwanga
in 1886 for refusing to denounce their faith.
lie 15 km east of Kampala city off Jinja Road. It was a place of execution of
all people who committed grave offence in the Kingdom of Buganda. The Uganda
Martyrs both Catholics and Anglicans offered their lives to Christ and were
burnt alive on the orders of King Mwanga
in 1886 for refusing to denounce their faith.
Following
this holocaust that reached its climax on June 3, 1886, Namugongo has easily
taken on the image of the attraction as a place of pilgrimage for about 2
million pilgrims from around the world annually; most of whom come to commemorate
every third day of June each year when St Charles Lwanga and others were
martyred.
this holocaust that reached its climax on June 3, 1886, Namugongo has easily
taken on the image of the attraction as a place of pilgrimage for about 2
million pilgrims from around the world annually; most of whom come to commemorate
every third day of June each year when St Charles Lwanga and others were
martyred.
SOURCE: Juliet Lukwago; UEC
Communications Office
Communications Office
