Ntagali declares May 30, children Martyrs Day

May 13, 2015

Ugandan children are to begin celebrating Uganda Martyrs Day on May 30 annually at Namugongo for the first time in history.

By Francis Emorut                                                               

Ugandan children are to begin celebrating Uganda Martyrs Day on May 30 annually at Namugongo for the first time in history.

This was announced by Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali yesterday in a media briefing in Kampala.

Martyrs Day celebrations are usually marked on June 3 however, May 30 has been designated for children since they have been inconvenienced by adults.

"This came up after realizing that because of the number of adults that come to Namugongo on June 3, the children do not usually have a chance to be properly ministered to," Ntagali said.

According to Ntagali the parents from different churches are expected to transport their children in buses for the May 30 celebrations beginning at 8:30am

The children will tour the Namugongo site and lectured about the importance of Martyrs Day and will be ministered to.

The day's activity will see children being entertained in drama about Martyrs Day aimed at inculcating to them the heritage of the event.

Children will also be served a meal before the celebrations end at 2:00pm.

This year's Martyrs Day celebrations are being organized by the Diocese of Kampala under Church of Uganda.

The Uganda Martyrs are a group of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda, who were executed between November 1885 and January 1887.

They were killed on orders of Mwanga II, the Kabaka (King) of Buganda.

Ntagali who was flanked by retired Lt.Col. Robert Ssekidde the chairman task force and his vice Rev. Canon John Awodi explained that the June 3 event will attract celebrants from different countries and all parts of Uganda.

The celebrations will be held under the theme: "Faith to the end" taken Revelations 2:10 which states "don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life."

Ntagali explained how the theme was chosen saying Africa today faces various challenges ranging from disease, fear of terrorists and an upsurge of xenophobia but in all these Christians should remain faithful for God is greater than the devil.

The Archbishop revealed the guest preacher for the event as His Grace Archbishop Benjamin Ben Agark Kwashi of Jos Province in the Church of Nigeria.

Ntagali called upon all Christians to come celebrate the day.

 


 

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