UGANDA: All set for 2018 Uganda Martyrs Day celebration
The wait is finally over! The much- anticipated 2018 Uganda Martyrs Day (UMD) celebration is due this Sunday at Namugongo Catholic Shrine.
Hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic pilgrims from different parts of the country and beyond have already arrived at Namugongo and more are still flocking in, with barely two days to the celebration.
According to the organizers, this year’s celebration is expected to attract over three million pilgrims. Millions of these pilgrims usually travel thousands of miles away either by air, bus or on foot to mark this celebration which transforms many lives.
This year’s UMD will be animated by Tororo Archdiocese and celebrated under a theme: “Let Us Walk in the Light of God as a Family” (1 John 1:5-10). It will be a unique celebration as it will be held concurrently with the 100 year’s celebration of the martyrdom of the two Catechists from Paimol, Agago District: Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed JildoIrwa who were killed in 1918. The two Blessed Martyrs are usually commemorated on 18th, October but they will be remembered in a special way on 3rd, June, 2018.
Over 250 choir members from all the 12 deaneries in Tororo Archdiocese are also set to lead the hymns. The hymns and readings have both been translated into various local and international languages to cater for all pilgrims.
An official Souvenir Magazine has also been prepared for the day by the Publicity Committee. The magazine will have content about the life of the martyrs, and the official proceedings of the day including but not limited to the Order of Mass.
Meanwhile, police have promised to provide tight security on that day and have cautioned pilgrims against misbehaving at the Holy grounds as Namugongo is intended for pilgrimage. They have also issued traffic guidelines with security officials keeping a close eye on every person heading to the Shrine.
The 3rd, June, 2018 celebration usually marks the commemoration of the heroic faith of the Martyrs, both Catholics and Protestants, who were burnt to death on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then king of Buganda between 1885 and 1887, for refusing to denounce their faith. Twenty-two Catholic Martyrs were beatified on 6th, June, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV, and on 18th, October, 1964, Pope Paul VI canonized them as Saints.
Tororo Archdiocese will animate the 2018 celebrations on behalf of Tororo Ecclesiastical Province which comprises of the Dioceses of Jinja, Kotido, Moroto, Soroti and Tororo. Tororo last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1998.
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By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
