After walking for seven days and covering over 260 kilometres from Fort Portal city, the pilgrims are 35 kilometres away from Kampala. 

The pilgrims today (Monday) arrived at Nswanjere Junior Seminary in Mpigi district, where they are resting before they resume the trek. 

The next and final stop will be at Busega Catholic Parish, in Kampala.

It is from Busega that in the afternoon of Tuesday they will have a triumphant entry to Namugongo.

It has been a gruelling journey, one with lots of challenges, but the never give up attitude and dedication to the cause they started, have brought them a step closer to triumph. 

The pilgrims will resume their voyage later Monday evening from Nswanjere. They arrived there at 7:30 am after having set off from Mityana Cathedral Parish on Sunday at about 4:40 pm.

Slow and exhausted

Unlike the first days of the trek where most of the pilgrims were fast-paced, the pilgrims are moving at a relatively slow speed. They look exhausted and others limp while they walk; most of them have insisted on walking.

A few heed the advice of the medics to stop walking and instead be transported (in the ambulances) while most of the pilgrims are adamant. They claim that they won’t be deterred until they cross the finish line and that is in Namugongo.

The number of those that can’t walk anymore has increased, according to the Red Cross medics. Whenever the trek resumes, the Red Cross team using their ambulances (two), ferry those who can’t walk anymore to the next resting point.

Richard Ssenono, who is heading the Red Cross team providing medical assistance to the pilgrims said since the pilgrims have already moved over 250kms, their bodies are weary.

He added that moving at night was another challenge since at that time, naturally, the body wants to rest.

Set off

After having lunch, the pilgrims will have mass and then resume the journey at about 4:00 am to Busega the last resting point before Namugongo. They expect to reach Busega at about 7:00 am on Tuesday.

Recap from day seven

On Sunday, the pilgrims arrived at Mityana Catholic Diocese. The first group arrived at Mityana Cathedral Parish (Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese) at about 3:00 am while the last group arrived at about 10:00 am.

While there, they were provided with breakfast and lunch. They also had a special pilgrims mass. 

The special mass was led by Rev Father Emmanuel Tamale, the Diocesan Chancellor. During his summon, he said, “the blood of the martyrs proved to be the seed of faith.”

“We pray that you reach safely. Even those that won’t make it to Namugongo, God will bless you because you have made it this far,” he said.