UGANDA: Lira Diocese Pilgrims Set For Foot Pilgrimage To Namugongo for 2019 Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations
About 550 foot pilgrims from the Catholic Diocese of Lira in the Northern part of Uganda are set to start their journey of faith to Namugongo in Kampala, a head of the Martyrs Day celebrations on the 3rd June.
The Pilgrims ready to begin their journey on Monday May 13, are drawn from all the 20 Catholic Parishes in Lira Diocese.
Alfred Jacinta Okello, the Chairperson of Lira Diocese foot pilgrims Association said in an interview that he is still receiving more pilgrims at the registration desk although they are left with less than a week to begin the journey of faith, (Pilgrimage).
Alfred Okello who started foot pilgrimage to Namugongo way back in 1999 when Lira Diocese animated the celebrations said other Christians will join them on the way.
Okello indicated that it is mandatory for each pilgrim to have a Rosary, the hymnal known as “Buk Kwac” in local language and other personal basic necessities.
He further revealed that each pilgrim is required to travel light, carrying less than 3 kgs so that luggage does not incapacitate the pilgrim from walking the journey of about 376 Km from the heart of Lira Municipality to Namugongo Martyrs shrine in Kampala.
He appealed for prayers and other spiritual support from Christian believers so that they may be guided and strengthened in the pilgrimage. “Everybody who makes pilgrimage to Namugongo must go with various prayer intentions to God like healing from sicknesses and other social challenges of life”, he said.
This year’s celebrations will be animated by Gulu Archdiocese under the theme Obey God Always and everywhere, drawn from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:19). Meanwhile in Gulu Archdiocese, preparations and arrangements are in high gear according to Monsignor Matthew Odong the Chairperson Central Organizing Committee mobilizing funds towards the actual celebrations at Namugongo.
The celebration at Namugongo comes at the time when Gulu Archdiocese on 20th October 2018 celebrated the centenary of the martyrdom of the blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa at Paimol Agago district, Gulu Arch Diocese.
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By Isaac Ojok, St. Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba
