CHRISTIANS | CATHOLICS | MARTYRS DAY 

KAMPALA - For this year’s Martyrs' Day celebration, the Catholic church organizing committee came up with a sh1b budget to cater for all the event’s preparations.

Fr. Edward Muhumuza, the organizing committee Finance chairperson explained that they have gotten pledges totalling up to sh700m, with sh500m being pledged by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Every year, millions of people from within and outside of Uganda make pilgrimage to Martyrs' shrines Namugongo in Wakiso district to recall how martyrs were killed for their faith during the reign of Late King Mwanga.

This year in February, the Episcopal Conference chose the Diocese of Fort Portal to lead in the Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations. 

Fort Portal diocese last led in the celebrations 25 years ago in 1997.

Muhumuza said this while addressing the press on how far the church has gone with organizing the June 3 event, at the Episcopal Conference Secretariat at Nsambya Kampala.

He said the sh200m pledges have been solicited from individuals and institutions including schools and health centres among others.

“We have a deficit of sh300m which we are looking to come from the different sources like the fundraising dinner and the walk of faith,” he said.

The committee has organized a fundraising dinner on May 2, at protea hotel Kampala, with the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja being the guest of honour.

The table at the dinner will go for sh3m while cards go for between sh150,000 to sh300,000.

Also, there will be a walk of faith and a mass on May 1, for all Catholics that originally come from the Fort Portal diocese but reside in Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso and Jinja at Kitante primary school at 10am, led by the Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese.

He said following the full reopening of the economy, the government allowed the church to organize big celebrations with a big number of people, however, cautioned on observing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Covid-19.

“All Standard Operating Procedures on the fight against COVID-19 like the washing of hands, social distancing and masking up will be strictly observed,” he emphasized

The prelate urged all those that will be participating in the pilgrimage from different parts of the country to go by the police rules and regulations to avoid getting into accidents and on the wrong side of the law.

This year’s celebrations were organized under the theme, "Baptized and sent to witness Christ with Love and hope,” which was derived from the Gospel of Mathew 28:19.