Brisk businesses in Namugongo suburbs pick up ahead of Martyrs’ fete
The most prevalent items include: foodstuffs, plastic jerrycans, clothes, shoes, rosaries, Bibles, beverages and other religious items.
Swings are some of the businesses in Namugongo where traders are minting cash from pilgrims. (Credit: Alfred Ochwo)
By Alfred Ochwo
Journalists @New Vision
KAMPALA - With barely three days to Uganda Martyrs Day, business enterprises are taking shape in the neighbourhoods of Namugongo with traders hoping to mint cash from thousands of pilgrims who are expected to attend the celebrations.
The most prevalent items include: foodstuffs, plastic jerrycans, clothes, shoes, rosaries, Bibles, beverages and other religious items.
The most prevalent items include: foodstuffs, plastic jerrycans, clothes, shoes, rosaries, and other religious items. (All Photos by Alfred Ochwo)
Four about two weeks ahead of Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations, which climax on June 3, traders are allocated space for rent to sell merchandise, especially to the pilgrims.
Unlike the previous celebrations where traders would compete for space with pedestrians along the main roads stretching from Kyaliwajjala to the Anglican site, this time, organisers made changes by putting barricades, leaving reasonable space for pedestrians.
According to security sources, every year the number of pilgrims from both sites increases due to the growing publicity.
Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations in honour of the Holy Martyrs killed between 1885 and 1887 on account of their faith.
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.
By Friday, 30th, both sites were jammed with pilgrims, security personnel and traders, including food vendors.