Martyrs Day preparations in full gear at Namugongo

Workers renovate one of Martyrs shade at Namugongo. Photo by Juliet Lukwago

With just nine days away, Hoima diocese, the host of this year's Catholic Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations together with the Catholic Secretariat are working around the clock to finish up with the preparations.

Charles Isingoma, chairman finance said they have a budget deficit of sh39m. "The total budget for this year's preparations was sh579m," he said, during the committee meeting at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo on Tuesday.

 

The traffic police commander in charge of Kampala Metropolitan area, greets Bishop Vincent Kirabo the bishop of Hoima diocese

 

Dr Emmanuel Kizza Aliba, chairman of the organizing committee, said the Martyrs Day program starts on May 25 with General Novena, which will be recited up to June 2. Then on May 27, there will be the Martyrs walk from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine to Old-Kampala church, where Matia Mulumba [one of the Martyrs] was killed. 

"We are proud that two of the 22 Catholic Martyrs — St. Andrew Kaggwa and St. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo hailed from Hoima Diocese," Aliba said.

The occasion that attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world is held at Namugongo Holy shrine every June 3^rd where most of the 22 Catholic martyrs and 23 Anglicans were burnt to death.

The annual event honours the 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs, who were killed by burning and beheading for their faith on orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.

 
On June 6, 1920 the 22 Catholic Martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV. They were declared saints on October 18, 1964 by Pope Paul VI.