UGANDA: Pilgrims Brace for 4th Annual ‘Walk of Faith’, Four Kenyans Die in Accident
On Saturday, June 1 pilgrims from all walks will flock at Munyonyo Martyrs Catholic Shrine to participate in the 4th edition of the “Walk of Faith” pilgrimage.
The 10km ‘Walk’, is one of the country’s most iconic spiritual pilgrimage held to enable Christians experience the Uganda Martyrs’ pain and their last moments on earth before their execution for refusing to denounce their faith by King Mwanga II, the then king of Buganda Kingdom between 1885 and 1887.
Hundreds of pilgrims are expected to take part in the pilgrimage, which will begin from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine, a place where King Mwanga II made the decision to execute the martyrs, and conclude at St. Matia Mulumba Parish in Old Kampala where St. Matia Mulumba, one of the 22 Catholic Martyrs was killed.
This year’s Walk is scheduled to begin at 8 am with a prayer and reflection about the lives of martyrs. It will be flagged of by Most Rev. John Baptist Odama Archbishop of Gulu, Most Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, who will also be the chief walker.
During the walk, pilgrims will make several stopovers for prayers at the sites where some of the martyrs were killed, before proceeding to the final destination at St. Matia Mulumba Parish to celebrate Holy Mass that will be presided over by Archbishop Odama of Gulu Archdiocese.
They will make stopovers at the sites of martyrdom of St. Denis Ssebuggwawo, St. Ponsiano Ngondwe, St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe and St. Athanasius Bazzeketa.
St. Denis Ssebuggwawo, St. Andrew Kaggwa and St. Pontiano Ngondwe were the first three Catholic martyrs to be killed at Munyonyo on May 26, 1886. However, some were killed along the way, while others were burned alive in Namugongo on June 3.
The Spiritual Walk is organized by the Lay Apostolate Department of Uganda Episcopal Conference in collaboration with Gulu Archdiocese, Munyonyo Parish and Uganda Tourism Board, who are also the main sponsors. This will be fourth edition of the ‘Walk of Faith’ pilgrimage since its inception in 2016.
The Uganda Martyrs Day celebration usually attracts millions of enthusiastic pilgrims from across the world to commemorate the heroic faith of the Martyrs. Gulu Archdiocese will animate this year’s celebration under the theme, ‘Obey God Always and Everywhere’ (Acts 4:19).
Four pilgrims from Bungoma Catholic Diocese in Kenya died on Sunday morning, May 26 after they were knocked down by a speeding commuter taxi along the busy Iganga-Jinja highway in Eastern Uganda.
The accident occurred at Bugodi village in Mayuge district. The deceased Kenyan victims who were on their way to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine for the celebrations on June 3 have since been identified as Sarah Adiambo, Godfrey Abaga, Kevinah Akila, and Roselyn Mutunga. According to reports, two of them died on the spot while two others passed on upon arrival at Iganga Hospital, Uganda.
The accident has left five others with serious injuries. They were part of over 150 pilgrims from Naitiri and Kisoko Parishes who were trekking to Namugongo.
Traffic police at Mayuge who confirmed the accident said the accident was caused by the recklessness of the taxi driver, who is now on the run.
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By Jacinta W. Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
