Ugandans jubilate over Pope's visit

By Taddeo Bwambale Juliet Waiswa & Alfred Wandera

News of a planned visit by Pope Francis to Uganda has been received with excitement by Ugandans, with the Government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, describing it as “great news for the country.”

On Monday, the Pope confirmed he hopes to visit Uganda and the Central African Republic later this year, during his first visit to Africa. He revealed the plans during  an in-flight news conference on his way home from a packed tour to the Philippines.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, however, stressed that the travel plans were “provisional and that nothing has been decided.” “Pope Francis announced Monday he will make his first visit to Africa later this year with
stops in Uganda and the restive Central African Republic,” the French news agency, AFP reported.

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President Yoweri Museveni (right) and Pope Francis chatting during the former’s visit to the Vatican in 2014

“I think it will be towards the end of the year because of the weather,” AFP quoted the pontiff as saying, aboard the
Papal plane as he headed back to Rome after a week-long visit in Asia.

“The trip has been a bit delayed due to Ebola. It’s a great responsibility,” the Pope added. According to AFP, Pope
Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, also confirmed plans to travel to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay in July.

But before his trip to Latin America and Africa, he will travel to the US, where he will visit the White House, address Congress, speak at the United Nations in New York, and participate in a massive Catholic rally for families in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis was initially invited to visit Uganda by the Government and the Catholic Church, but he was
not able to make it.

Opondo Tuesday described the Pope’s anticipated visit as ‘good news for the country’ and a sign of confidence in the direction Uganda is taking.

“The Pope has been raising awareness about issues such as inequality across the world, which our government has been fighting,” Opond said. He said the Pope’s visit would be credit to the NRM government to have hosted two Popes in about two decades.

The first papal visit to the African continent was made to Uganda by Pope Paul VI on July 31, 1969, and he made a
pilgrimage to Namugongo on August 2.

Pope John Paul II made the second papal visit to Uganda in 1993 and during the six-day trip, he visited the Namugongo shrine and elevated it to the rank of a Minor Basilica.

Pope Francis is expected to inaugurate the expanded Namugongo Martyrs Shrine that is currently undergoing renovation.

Catholic Church awaits formal communication The national co-ordinator for communications at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat, Phillip Odi, told New Vision Tuesday that the church was waiting for formal communication from
the Vatican about the Pope’s trip.

“We have read the Pope’s statement and we hope it will be confirmed. As soon as we get official communication, we will start preparations accordingly,” he noted.

The chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Archbishop John Baptist Odama, declined to comment on the matter, saying he had not got official communication from the Vatican.

Other leaders comment Several politicians, religious leaders from different denominations and members of the public welcomed the pontiff’s planned visit, describing it as an honour to the country.

The spokesperson of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Nsereko Mutumba, said the Pope’s visit to Uganda will be ‘a blessing.’ “As a member of the Inter- Religious Council of Uganda, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council welcomes him to
Uganda,” he said.

“I am fascinated by his leadership style depicted through his humility, love for children and interaction with the poor. He is also objective and came out to condemn provocation of other religions in the aftermath of the recent attack in France,” Mutumba added.

Democratic Party president Norbert Mao described the Pope’s planned visit to Uganda as a blessing to the country.

“The Pope’s visit to Uganda is significant because we expect him to visit Paimol in Agago district, which is the site
of martyrdom of the Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa,” he said.

Mao said the Pope was not just a religious leader, but a significant figure in guiding politics, diplomacy and social
affairs of the society. Uganda People’s Congress president Olara Otunnu said the pontiff’s visit was important for Uganda, a bedrock of Catholicism and the Christian faith.

“I was fortunate to have met Pope Francis when he was still the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina. I was
excited when he was elected the Pope, having known a little bit of him before. I will be ready to meet him again either
in Uganda or Rome soon. His visit calls for celebration,” he stated.