What people will miss at Namugongo

MARTYRS DAY | CHRISTIANS | NAMUGONGO 

KAMPALA - Today Christians all over the world are celebrating Uganda Martyr’s Day, but due to COVID-19 both Shrines are empty because attendance was restricted to 200 faithful. 

This is the second year the day to be celebrated in the same category to avoid the spread of Covid-19 Juliet Lukwago talks to different people and narrates what they will miss at Namugongo. 

Ivan Aloysius Kalanzi, head of laity Kampala Archdiocese

What a miss not to celebrate Uganda Martyrs Day 3rd June at Namugongo in free unison as a Universal Church! COVID 19 has really dealt a blow to our aspirations and love for an annual pilgrimage to the land and indeed soil of the Uganda Martyrs! 

I will greatly miss the inspiring people of great faith who travel from far and wide, making a lot of sacrifice to the extent of walking long distances or spending a lot of money on land transport or flights to show their deep faith in the Uganda Martyrs! 

How I will miss that heavenly atmosphere down on earth! How I miss the amazing great congregation of Bishops, Priests, religious, and laity (young and old), all singing in unison praising God through the gallant Uganda martyrs! How we will miss the Pilgrimage Indulgence! May the Uganda Martyrs pray and intercede for us to overcome COVID 19.

Rev. Esau Bbosa Kimanje, the vicar of Uganda Martyrs Church and Principal of Uganda Martyrs Seminary Namugongo.

The function will be for only 200 people, we will miss activities which used to take place before the Martyrs Day; for example, youth activities, women, men and songs from different choirs.  

The situation can’t allow us to invite more people; but will are missing.

Martyrs’ day is one of the big days in Uganda, every year it is our wish to pray with other people from different countries. Ankole region was supposed to organize but due to COVID-19 was possible.   

Rev. Esau Bbosa Kimanje

Enoch Ruhundo, Administrator of Uganda Martyrs Museum Nakiyanja

Being that the day will be celebrated scientifically like 2020, no pilgrims will be allowed apart from only 200 invited guests; as an administrator of Museum will miss entry fee, we used to get from the pilgrims which help us to maintain the Museum and also developing.

These people gave us a lot of money which help us a lot.

Enoch Ruhundo

Fr Vincent Lubega, Rector of Catholic Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo 

We will miss the big number of pilgrims, most especially the foot pilgrims because of their generosity love of their faith they strengthen us a lot; some reach here one- two weeks before the day. We will miss their element.

Fr Vincent Lubega

Fr Emmanuel Kiyemba, Parish Priest of Busunju Parish in Kiyinda-Mityana   

Martyrs’ day is a big day to us, it comes once in the year and as Catholics we believe in paying pilgrimages to the Holy places like Namugongo. 

To celebrate this day with our brothers and sisters from different places in the world, socially, physically and economically will be missing them.  

Fr Emmanuel Kiyemba

Head of Laity, Namugongo Parish, John Nakedde Ssempanyi

Namugongo Martyrs Shrine is lovely place for prayers through Uganda Martyrs, we get pride seeing the place full of people from different dioceses, countries and parishes every year.  

Last year we missed celebrating 100 years together since the canonization of the martyrs, even this year think that will be celebrating 101 together but it is the same. 

We used to celebrate the day with His grace Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga will be missing him too; will be celebrating the day with sadness because our ordinally is no longer with us, the place is looking nice because of him, he was a pillar in developing it.

John Nakedde Ssempanyi

Francis Muwonge, Namugongo Parish Administrator Secretary  

Martyrs’ session is time of prayers, miracles and testimonies. Every year we used to get many testimonies from pilgrims through Uganda Martyrs, pilgrims passion strengthens us too, serious will be missing them. 

Francis Muwonge

In 2019 the year we last have colorful Martyrs Day a priest from Tanzania went with water from martyr’s lake and gave it to sick person and was he becomes better.