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UGANDA MARTYRS 

The faithful at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Parish, Namaliga in Bombo town, erupted in a wave of raw emotions when Nebbi Catholic Diocese pilgrims arrived at their church.

The scene unfolded just as local Christians were exiting the morning mass, they spotted the pilgrims and burst into joyful cheers, ululations, and spontaneous dances. It was a sight to cherish!

Nebbi Catholic Diocese pilgrims praying after reaching Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Parish, Namaliga in Bombo town. (All Photos by Hannington Mutabazi)

As the locals and pilgrims mingled in jubilant celebration, the church brass band added to the exuberance. The excitement reached a fever pitch as younger Christians and pilgrims alike jumped, danced, and screamed with uncontainable joy.

Immersed in gratitude, some of the faithful were deeply moved, saying it was a blessing for the pilgrims to choose their church.

It’s here the pilgrims will rest and have some shuteye. After having prayers and welcoming remarks from the parish management, they were led by the band to where they would spend the night at Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre, right next to the church.

NThe faithful at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Parish, Namaliga in Bombo town, displayed raw emotions, with moments of unbridled joy when Nebbi Catholic Diocese pilgrims arrived at their church.

At that time, their welfare team, which always arrives hours before them, was finishing preparing their tea and already working on their supper. They are entitled to one meal and a cup of tea every day.

The pilgrims arrived at about 12:45 pm, having set off from St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wobulenzi Municipality at around 6:30 am. They walked for about 20 kilometres in seven hours. In a car, it would have taken them about 25 minutes.

The church is about four kilometres from the Kampala-Gulu highway.

The faithful at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Parish, Namaliga in Bombo town, displayed raw emotions, with moments of unbridled joy when Nebbi Catholic Diocese pilgrims arrived at their church.

From Wobulenzi, the pilgrims were accompanied by Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldiers. The soldiers didn’t relent – carrying their AK47s and in full camouflage combat gear, they trekked with them until their destination.

On the road, at some point, the traffic came to a standstill. The Traffic Police officer played a crucial role in ensuring there was a smooth flow and that the pilgrims were safe on the road.

On the road to Bombo, the pilgrims were mostly challenged by the hilly nature of the road which made the journey more challenging, with steep inclines that tested the pilgrims' endurance and resolve.

Nebbi Catholic Diocese pilgrims walking towards Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Parish, Namaliga in Bombo town. The church is about four kilometres from the Kampala-Gulu highway.

Eric Mungu Jaber, the pilgrim with a disability said the day’s journey had tested his determination and endurance. He needed his colleague's help every time it was time to hike the hilly road. 

More medical emergencies

Unlike the first days when the pilgrims’ energy tanks were full, now, they are running on empty. There is quite a number of those limping but soldiering on, while some can’t move anymore, and can only wait to be ferried to the next resting point.

Nurse Carol Apio says they have registered several pilgrims with muscle cramps and blisters that have turned into wounds on their feet. However, the few cases of red eyes they registered a week ago are no more.

On the road to Bombo, the pilgrims were mostly challenged by the hilly nature of the road which made the journey more challenging, with steep inclines that tested the pilgrims' endurance and resolve.

Some still look fresh even though they have covered over 250 kilometres since they began the holy journey more than a week ago from Nebbi district in Uganda’s north.

They can still sing and dance all through the journey. Other pilgrims reserve their energy for the last mile as they approach their rest stop.

More join pilgrimage

When the pilgrims were flagged off on Wednesday (May 15) by the Archbishop-elect of Gulu Ecclesiastical Province and the Bishop of Nebbi, Raphael P'Mony Wokorach, they were about 520. On the way, before they reached Luwero, they had increased to 531.

A vendor who joined the pilgrims on the trek, happily giving a colleague from Bukedde TV an interview. She and some others walked with the vendors for about four kilometers with the pilgrims until their destination.

As of Sunday, the officer in charge of Wobulenzi Police Station, John Tibamuleke, said he had been briefed that the number was about 600 pilgrims.

Namugongo on Wednesday 

According to Festo Thugitho, their deputy leader, they expect to reach Namugongo Catholic Shrine in Wakiso district on Wednesday (May 29).

From Wobulenzi to Bombo, the pilgrims walked for about 20 kilometres in 7 hours. In a car, it would have taken them about 25 minutes.

Monday night will find them in Matugga in Wakiso district, with Kampala firmly in sight. On Tuesday, the pilgrims will then proceed to Naguru, a suburb of Kampala city.

Finally, after days of exhausting walking, the determined group will make their grand entry into Namugongo on Wednesday.

They will stay there until June 3, the day of the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.