📷: Munyonyo pilgrims take walk of faith to honor Martyrs

Christians have walked from Munyonyo to Old Kampala, as part of activities leading to this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations.

“The Walk of Faith” was a part of the spiritual preparation for the 2023 Uganda Martyrs Day Celebration on June 3.

The walk started at 9 am from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine to Old Kampala.

Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere interacting with Parish Priests of Munyonyo, one of the organizers of “The Walk of the Faith,” Fr Ulman Voltek a.ka Male before flagging off Christians for “The Walk of the Faith” from Munyonyo to Old-Kampala on Saturday May 27

Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere and the Minister for general duties in the Prime Minister’s office, and in charge of the Finance organizing committee, Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba who represented Jinja Diocese the host of this year’s Martyrs Day at Catholic Martyrs Shrine flagged off Christians.

Among other participants were; the Head of Laity Uganda, Gervase Ndyanabo, Salamu Musumba also from Jinja the hosting diocese, and priests working in the Catholic Secretariat.

Minister for general duties in the Prime Minister’s office, and in charge of the Finance organizing committee, Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba who represented Jinja Diocese the host of this year’s Martyrs Day at Catholic Martyrs Shrine and Salamu Musumba with other Christians in Walk of the Faith from Munyonyo to Old-Kampala on Saturday May 27

Martyrs’ Day is celebrated in remembrance of the young Christian converts who refused to denounce their newly found religion between 1885 and 1886 to the annoyance of the then Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda. He ordered that they be burnt to death but they died while defending their faith.

The symbolic event is part of the grand plan for the Catholic Church to organize such a pilgrimage every year from Munyonyo to Old-Kampala Church where one of the Martyrs St Matia Mulumba was killed.

Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere Minister for general duties in the Prime Minister’s office, and in charge of the Finance organizing committee, Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba who represented the Jinja Diocese the organizers of this year’s Martyrs flagging off Christians

Catholic Episcopal Conference chose Jinja Diocese to animate this year’s celebrations, which the theme shall guide, “Lord increase our Faith, (Luke 17.5),” which is reflected in the way the martyrs died.

The Catholic Church, on June 3 annually honors the 22 Uganda Martyrs that include Saint Charles Lwanga and Catechists, Blessed Daudi Okello, and Jildo Irwa from Paimol in the Archdiocese of Gulu.

 Archbishop Ssemogerere

Before flagging off, Archbishop Ssemogerere urged Ugandans to be encouraged to emulate the Uganda Martyrs.

 Parish Priest of Munyonyo, Fr Male

Before there was a talk about Uganda Martyrs by Rector, Fr Ulman Voltek a.ka Male who also welcomed the pilgrims to Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine.

Christians in “The Walk of the Faith,” from Munyonyo to Old-Kampala on Saturday May 27, 2023

Fr Male said that this place is where the first three Christians, namely, St. Denis Ssebuggwawo, St. Andrew Kaggwa, and St. Pontiano Ngondwe were killed on May 26, 1886.

Munyonyo is also where most of the martyrs started their journey to Namugongo.

The pilgrims stopped at Kyamula for prayers where St Ponsiano Ngondwe was killed and proceeded to their final destination St. Matia Mulumba Parish.

However, Lumumba thanked the Catholic Secretariat for organizing this walk of the faith. 

Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere reads a gospel before flagging off Christians for “The Walk of the Faith” from Munyonyo to Old-Kampala on Saturday May 27, 2023

Minister for general duties in the Prime Minister’s office Justine Kasule Lumumba during the flagg off