UGANDA: Millions of pilgrims gather at Namugongo to celebrate 2016 Uganda Martyrs day
Following the 2015 historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Namugongo Catholic Shrine in Uganda to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the canonization of the Martyrs, millions of enthusiastic pilgrims from across the world have gathered at Namugongo to celebrate the 2016 Uganda Martyrs day which will climax on June 3 and, have a sense of feeling of the Pontiff’s last year’s concluded visit.
This year’s celebration were led by the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana on behalf of Kampala Ecclesiastical Province under the theme, “The Truth Will Make You Free” (John 8:32).
According to Fr. Lazarus Kiggundu, the Chairperson of the organizing Committee for the 2016 Martyrs celebration in Kiyinda-Mityana diocese, the pilgrims started arriving at Namugongo on Sunday May 22.
“Many of these pilgrims come from different dioceses from within Uganda and other countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Malawi, Burundi and Zambia among others,” Fr. Kiggundu said. “We expected at least a total of three million pilgrims following the successful visit of the Pope last year.”
Majority of these pilgrims usually walk for days to Namugongo to honor the brave and courageous spirit exemplified by the martyrs who died for the sake of Christ. During these journey pilgrims recite the rosary and novena and invoke the names of the Martyrs to intercede for them in overcoming the challenges they face in their daily lives.
Kiyinda-Mityana diocese last led the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1994 which was shortly after the visit of Pope John Paul II to Uganda 1993.
The annual celebration, which is marked every June 3, commemorates the heroic faith of the 45
Martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, 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.
In addition to the Catholic Martyrs, there are two Catechists from Paimol: Blessed Daudi Okelo and Blessed Gildo Irwa who were killed in 1918. The two catechists were beatified by John Paul II on October 20, 2002. 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 Singo County Kiyinda-Mityana diocese.
Meanwhile security has been beefed up within and outside the premises by the anti-terrorism unit of the Uganda Police to ensure peaceful celebration.
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
