Martyrs’ pilgrimage: Boy drops everything to follow Christ

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The Uganda martyrs’ pilgrimage for the group of devotees from West Lango was completed on June 1 when they arrived at the Anglican martyrs’ shrine in triumph after walking for 10 active days.

The pilgrimage started at St Peter’s Cathedral Aduku in Kwania district to Apac, Kiryandongo, Nakasongola, Luweero, Kampala and concluded at Namugongo Wakiso district for the martyr’s day celebrations.

The believers in the group are a part of the thousands of pilgrims from all over Uganda and abroad that have gathered at Namugongo to celebrate the lives of 23 Anglican martyrs who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 to 1887.

Gabriel Onyum, 9, was the youngest pilgrim among the hundreds that arrived from West Lango diocese.

The believer, who is at Namugongo for the first time, is a Primary Four pupil at St Margaret Primary school, Kwania district.

He says from Sunday school they were told the Uganda Martyrs were killed by a man named Mukajanga for believing and worshiping God.

Although school started when Onyum was en route to Namugongo, he believes he has not missed much compared to the exposure and ‘blessings’ he is getting from the pilgrimage.

“I came to Namugongo to pray that God blesses my parents with more finances and good health to cater for my school fees without worrying,” he says.

“I also came today to pray that I get more knowledge to be able to perform even better in school.”

Onyum narrated that on his way to Namugongo, he did not get any challenges and further says he made friends with whom they met all the way to Namugongo.

“People came singing and dancing. We would also stop to have refreshments which made the whole journey joyous,” he adds.

James Onyum, the father of the young pilgrim, says he made a pilgrimage to Namugongo last year and when he returned the young man expressed interest to go for the one of 2024.

“I immediately accepted regardless of his age as I know it is a walk of faith that people do with God in control,” he says.

The father prays that his son gets all the wishes that made him bravely move for over 294km to the Martyrs' site at Namugongo.