UGANDA: Theme Chosen for the 2016 Uganda Martyrs Day Celebration
With less than a month to the 2016 Uganda Martyrs Day Shrine celebration at Namugongo, the theme for this year’s event has been released.
The theme, which has been extracted from the Book of John 8:32, is ‘The Truth Will Make You Free.’ The June 3 celebrations will be animated by the Diocese of Kiyinda Mityana on behalf of Kampala Ecclesiastical Province. The theme was unveiled on April 21, 2016 by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese and Vice Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) at a press conference that was held at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat (UCS) premises.
“The Diocese of Kiyinda Mityana last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1994 that was shortly after the visit of Pope John Paul II to Uganda 1993,” Bishop Zziwa said. “The same Diocese is privileged this year to take the celebrations to a higher level following the successful visit of Pope Francis to Uganda last year, and the improvement of Namugongo Shrine and grounds.”
The annual celebration commemorates the heroic faith of the 45 Martyrs, both Catholic and Protestant, who were burnt to death on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then king of Buganda between 1885 and 1887. Twenty two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on June 6, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV, and on October 18 1964, Pope Paul VI canonized them as Saints.
Of the twenty two Martyrs who were canonized, four of them including St. Noa Mawaggali, St. Matthias Mulumba, St. Luke Baanabakintu and St. Ambrose Kibuuka came from Kiyinda Mityana.
Meanwhile, Kiyinda Mityana Diocese and the UCS, which is the central organizing committee, are working hand in hand to make the required preparations. So far, 11 committees have been formed comprising of members from Kiyinda Mityana, members from the UCS and government representatives.
The committees include Pastoral and Liturgy, Transport and Protocol, Publicity and Communication, Catering and Welfare, Construction and Decoration, Finance, Security, Pilgrims, Medical, Sanitation and Ushering.
The preparations and the actual celebrations has been estimated to costs at least UShs 450m ($134,933).
“We are calling upon Christians, God loving and people of good will to contribute generously towards this grand and special event in the life of the Church, which also invigorates the faith,” Bishop Zziwa explained.
By Jacinta W. Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
