UGANDA: Gulu Archdiocese On Fundraising Drive for 2019 Uganda Martyrs Celebration

Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Most Rev. John Baptist Odama has appealed for a financial support of approximately US$245,000 (Uganda Shillings 900 million) from well-wishers for the 2019 Uganda Martyrs Day celebration on June 3.

Archbishop Odama made his appeal Monday February 25, during a press conference that was held at Uganda Catholic Secretariat premises in Nsambya, Kampala. He said that the Archdiocese of Gulu has drawn a budget of US$243,792 (Ushs 900m) that will be used in the preparations of the event and the actual celebration. The Archdiocese was chosen last year to animate the 2019 UMD celebration.

“We have a moderate budget of Ushs900m. I appeal to all well-wishers, Catholic faithful, Government institutions, businesses and corporate organizations at local and international level, to help us in raising this money,” he said adding, “Who knows, maybe an individual can come forth and decide to donate the whole amount.”

The Archdiocese has so far collected only US$2,708 (Ushs10m) in cash and US$6,501 shs24m in form of pledges out of the total budget. Archbishop Odama noted that Mbarara Archdiocese, through the Catholic faithful of Mbarara living in Kampala, organized for them (Gulu) a fundraising drive on February 24 and collected a total of shs5m.

He thanked Most Rev. Paul K. Bakyenga of Mbarara and the Catholic faithful of Mbarara living in Kampala for coming to their rescue through the fundraising drive.

“I am very grateful to Mbarara Archdiocese because when they heard that their brother Archdiocese will be animating this year’s UMD celebration, they decided to organize for us this initiative,” he noted.

The prelate said that they will also visit all parishes and institutions in Gulu Archdiocese to mobilize the community to contribute towards the celebration. Besides, they will hold several fundraising dinners in both Gulu and Kampala archdiocese in March and April.

Gulu Archdiocese last animated the UMD celebrations in 2003 soon after the beatification of Blessed Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa in 2002 at the Vatican by Pope John Paul II. The two Blessed Martyrs from Paimol symbolically joined the 22 Martyrs of Uganda when, their relics were brought to Namugongo after their beatification.

This year’s celebration will be a unique celebration as it will also commemorate the centenary celebration of the martyrdom of the two Blessed Catechists. The theme guiding the 2019 UMD celebration is, “Obey God Always and Everywhere.”

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese has set up 11 Central Organizing committees at diocesan level to help in the organization and coordination of the celebration.

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