UGANDA: Martyrs of Uganda Pilgrimage Group Commemorates the African Saints at Home
Sam Kalimba
Due to Covid19 restrictions, a group of Malawian Catholics who for the past 11 years have been gathering to pray with the intercession of the Martyrs of Uganda through a pilgrimage to Namugongo in Uganda, this year have prayed at home.
Isaac Mphweya is the Publicity Secretary of the grouping and said that every 3rd June is a day to commemorate the martyrdom of the 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in 1885 to 1887 in Uganda. He said that according to history, they were martyred by King Mwanga the second.
“Due to the pandemic we have not been able for the past two years to go on a pilgrimage to Uganda. This year we are commemorating the martyrdom of our African Saints in different parishes within our chapters – in Mzuzu Zomba, Blantyre and Lilongwe. We have chosen Catholic Parishes whose patron saints are either Martyrs of Uganda or one of them,” said Mphweya.
He said that the team that met at Kaggwa Woyera Parish of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe had a retreat facilitated by Fr. James Mkwezalamba who also celebrated mass for them.
While reflecting on the lives of the African Martyrs, Fr. Mkwezalamba also reflected on the dilemma of Peter and Paul on who is to be served and emphasized that salvation was for all.
He went further to ask the Namugongo pilgrims that in their prayer life and daily life they should not segregate others and take themselves as holier than the others who are not part of them.
The Malawi Friends of Namugongo, according to Mphweya, was founded some 11 years ago and allows all Christians regardless of their faith and denomination to join.
