UGANDA: Tororo Archdiocese needs USD 90 Thousands ahead of Uganda Martyrs Day celebration
Msgr Kauta, Archbishop Obbo and Mr. Kamiza during the press conference at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat premises (photos by Jacinta W. Odongo)
The Archbishop of Tororo, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Obbo has sent out an appeal to the public to come on board to ensure the success of the 2018 Uganda Martyrs Day (UMD) celebration which will be held in less than one month.
The Archdiocese requires US$88,345 (an equivalent of Uganda shillings 330 million) out of the actual total budget of US$198,029 (720m Ugandan shillings), which is required for the preparations and actualization of the forth-coming celebration due June 3 at the Namugongo Catholic Shrine. However, they (Tororo) have so far raised about US$104,407 (UG Shs 390 million).
Archbishop Obbo made his appeal on Wednesday, 25th, April, 2018 during a press conference at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat (UCS) premises.
“Most of us are aware that Tororo is located in a rural area and being rural the income is very low from the people around. We have been moving in villages, parishes and other places and we have so far raised about US$104,407 (UG Shs 390 million), and so we have a balance of about US$88,345 (Uganda shillings 330 million) and yet we have barely a month left,” said the Archbishop.
He added, “Therefore, we continue to appeal to all people of good will and institutions to support this celebration in honour of our Martyrs. We are hopeful that we will be able to reach that budget but you and me as Ugandans have to put that hope together and expect it to be raised. There is no doubt about it.”
The Archbishop has also called on individuals and corporate bodies who would like to offer services of any kind to come on board.
“I know that there are people who are ready to give voluntary services including giving ambulances and vehicles to accompany the footing pilgrims. We shall appreciate all these services,” he explained.
The chairman of Tororo-Kampala Chapter subcommittee for the UMD celebrations, Robert Kamiza said that they have devised other ways to ensure they raise the remaining funds.
“To reach the budget we have put a number of things in place: we have recorded a caller tune which is being used on two major telecommunication companies (MTN and Airtel). People can download this tune at an affordable rate. This tune has been formulated from this year’s theme to guide us in the celebration, ‘Let us Walk in Light of God as a Family’.”
The Archdiocese is also organizing a major fundraising dinner on May 17 in Kampala and second-basket collections in Parishes across the country, in a bid to raise the remaining funds.
Meanwhile, Tororo has already begun registration of foot pilgrims with over 4000 already confirmed and more being registered. On May 20, 2018 Archbishop Obbo will bless and officially flag-off foot pilgrims from Tororo Archdiocese at the Uganda Martyrs Cathedral in Tororo. The foot pilgrims will, however, start their pilgrimage to Namugongo on May 25, 2018 and officially enter the shrine on May 31.
“We expect more confirmations from international pilgrims in their thousands in the month of May, as we draw closer to the day,” the Prelate noted.
Responding to questions from the press, the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr John Baptist Kauta said the Uganda Catholic Secretariat has also received pilgrims’ notifications from Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.
He, however, cautioned the public against misbehaving at the Holy grounds on June 3. “We will try to do all we can to minimize people who have wrong intentions. Namugongo is intended for pilgrimage to celebrate the lives of the Martyrs, it shouldn’t be a dark place but a place of prayer where we think of our Church, faith and how to rebuild our nation. Therefore, those who come for this celebration should respect their faith and worship as a family,” Msgr Kauta said.
Over 4 million pilgrims from Uganda and across the world are expected to take part in this year’s UMD celebration. Tororo Archdiocese will animate the celebrations on behalf of Tororo Ecclesiastical Province which comprises of the Dioceses of Jinja, Kotido, Moroto, Soroti and Tororo.
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
