NEBBI

The central organising committee Nebbi Catholic Diocese for the 2024 National Martyrs Day celebration has laid down new strategies to mobilise funds to host the day.

Nebbi Catholic Diocese will lead the Uganda Martyrs celebrations in Namugongo next year with a budget of sh1.3b.

Christians of Nebbi Cathedral after attending church service. (Photo by Robert Ariaka)

The main committee has formed others, consisting of parish priests and parish pastoral committee members, to mobilise finance for the purpose.

The chairperson of the Nebbi Catholic Diocese committee, Catherine Akumu Mavenjina, the MP representing older persons in Northern Uganda, called for massive support from Christians and well-wishers to enhance the efforts of the committee to achieve the target.

Mavenjina, who made the remarks during a meeting on Sunday, said a new strategy for resource mobilisation with contribution sheets has been placed in 17 parishes including the two newly-created sub-parishes, depending on their capacity for Christians to contribute.

The first phase of the parishes include Nebbi Cathedral parish, Parombo, Pakwach and Paidha with each tasked with contributing up to sh15m and the second group of 11 will on average contribute sh13m. Other sub-parishes are Atyaak and Panyango,’’ Akumu revealed.

The current budget projection stands at sh1.3b, which the committee is seeking to raise from the congregation, people of good will and institutions ahead of June 3, next year.

The Bishop Ordinary of Nebbi Catholic Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, called for financial support with prayers as they take up the responsibility to prepare the most popular and glorious celebration intended to produce the fruit of faith.

Next year’s theme is taken from Joshua 24;15: But as for me and my household, we shall serve the lord. Christians are reminded to give for the work of God.

Tiberius Pacutho, a member of the parish pastoral council in Wadelai parish, challenged political leaders, Christians in the diaspora and the corporate institutions to extend their support towards the course.

George Uthuba, a Christian, appreciated the direction the committee had taken in resource mobilisation.

This is the second time Nebbi Catholic Diocese will lead prayers in Namugongo, 16 years after it led in 2007.

Nebbi was created in 1996 from the diocese of Arua in northwestern Uganda. Currently, Nebbi Diocese has a population of 549,118, who subscribe to the catholic doctrine, according to the Uganda Episcopal Conference.