UGANDA: Uganda Celebrates Martyrs Day Low Profile Due to Covid-19
Gideon Peter Ssebulime and Jjunju Francis
On Wednesday June 3, 2020, Uganda has marked the 133rd year of Uganda Martyrs but in a low-profile following government restriction that bar mass gatherings to control the spread of Coronavirus that has so far so many 370,000 lives worldwide.
For the first time since 1920, the two sites of Uganda Martyrs, the Catholic and Anglican shrines at Namugongo, have seen a handful of attendants and pilgrims coming for the commemoration. This is unlike the other years when millions of pilgrims flock from different countries to shrines to pray through the intercession of the 45 martyrs who were killed under the orders of King Mwanga between 1885 and 1887 because of their faith.
The Archbishop of Kampala Most Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, while leading the Mass for the June 3 at the Catholic Shrine Namugongo, congratulated Christians for bravery despite the challenge of not being able to celebrate Mass in churches for the last three months, saying that everyone in their family have stood firm in faith.
Archbishop Dr. Lwanga said like the Martyrs who exhibited love, faith and hope, they too have been killed for the God.
He urged all Ugandans to emulate the Martyrs despite the challenge of Covid-19 saying, “Let there be no anger, selfishness, despair or the spirit of survival of the fittest but a united Catholic Church.
He has also asked government to plan for the after-effects of Covid-19 as many people lack food and other basic necessities since many people are not doing any work to earn anything for the livelihood of their families.
Archbishop of Church of Uganda Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu who led a service from the Anglican Martyrs site also encouraged Christians to pray to God to save Uganda and the world from the Coronavirus pandemic.
He too urges government not to forget the frontline health workers, teachers and the most vulnerable.
On his part, President Yoweri Museveni sent a special message to congratulate all Christians on the occasion, saying that they too are like the martyrs who exercised heroic virtues of faith by accepting death yet they stood.
He said the Uganda martyrs are seeds that fell on good soil in the Parable of the Sower; that their example of fortitude and endurance has helped to plant the kingdom of God in Uganda and around the globe.
He urged the Christians in Uganda to allow the spirit of sacrifice and total surrender to God to inspire them in their day to day undertakings.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Masaka Diocese Rt. Rev. Serverus Jjumba who was supposed to preside over the Uganda Martyrs national commemoration at Namugongo has celebrated the festivity with the entire church in his diocese from his cathedral, Kitovu.
Bishop Jjumba took the opportunity to acknowledge the suffering many are undergoing due to the lockdown in the country and emphasized the need for Christian love for every person despite any differences.
He said that as all person are equal before God, there should be equity and equality.
“Let Ugandans strive for peace for all especially the children, youth and mothers who have been so vulnerable during the lockdown due to COVID-19,” he said.
He further said that brutal attacks on mothers and children by spouses and parents leaves a lot of pain, hence calling for repentance so that families may live their lives like the Holy family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus in Nazareth.
Encouraging the youth to be the light of the world, Bishop Jjumba has hailed all Christians for having persevered since the churches were closed in March due to Covid-19, urging all to remain in prayer from their homes until the time when the churches will be opened and, above all, to see the world getting a cure for COVID-19.
