Children want to meet Pope

By Juliet Lukwago              

Children belonging to the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda want to meet with Pope Francis when he visits the country this year.

The children, under their umbrella body the Bannakizito Association, told the Kampala Archdiocese archbishop, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga not to leave them out when the great man of God visits Uganda in November 27-29.

The children’s head of laity Maltida Odongo told Dr. Lwanga that it was a culture in Uganda to sideline children on such big occasion so this time they want to be at the forefront of the Pope’s visit.

“We are children under the Church. We ask you the archbishop not to leave us out when the Pope comes. We are the generation of tomorrow who will narrate the Pope’s visit to the coming generations as you are telling us about the visit of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II who visited before we were born,” Odongo said.



Odongo was addressing a gathering at Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine Munyonyo on Sunday during the association’s annual celebrations.

She said the coming of the Pope is an inspiration to the country adding that they should also be part of the history.

She thanked Dr. Lwanga, the founder of their association and advised her fellow children to continue loving their faith, helping each other as their association pillar loving, sharing and caring.

In his response, Dr. Lwanga promised the children that they will surely be at the fore front when the Pope visits.

“We have selected Munyonyo, where the journey of the martyrs started from, as the place where the pope will specifically meet and share with you the young ones,” Dr. Lwanga said.

He added that at that venue, the Pope will also meet other groups of people including catechistics, school head teachers, lay leaders and laities, among others.

The Archbishop called for renovation of Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine Munyonyo because the Pope will spend some time there with the people.

“I call upon all well-wishers to contribute generously towards this noble cause so that we lift the face of this shrine. The total amount to renovate this place is Sh25b,” he noted.

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Archbishop Lwanga carries one of the children who attended the Bannakizito 9th anniversary

 In his message to the children, Dr. Lwanga urged them to be messengers of the word of God as they are emulate their patron St. Kizito who was the youngest martyr.

Dr. Lwanga also advised the children to read their books to pass their exams other than going into witchcraft.

The prelate led the holy mass for thousands of pupils from Roman Catholic founded public and private primary schools at their pilgrimage to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Munyonyo.


A child carries the holy book during the Bannakizito Association 9th  anniversary

The mass marked the 9th annual day of Bannakizito children’s association, a Roman Catholic movement of children in Kampala archdiocese

The children came from the four Vicariates that form the Kampala Archdiocese, Mitala-Maria, Wakiso, Entebbe and Kampala.

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Children dance during their 9th anniversary

The assistant commissioner, Ministry of Education and Sports, who was the chief guest, Mukasa Lusambu hailed the Roman Catholic Church for the role played in the education sector.

“We are very grateful for role you play in educating the children of Uganda. For a great time now the church has partnered with the government to reduce the burden that is carried by the government in the sector,” he said.

He advised children to be good always so that they grow to help others and when they go to secondary schools, to avoid strikes as other students in some schools are doing.

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Head of Children laity, Maltida Odongo addresses her fellow  Children during their 9th anniversary

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Pupils of Lubaga Boys sing during the Mass 


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Archbishop of Kampala,  Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga receives offertory from Nswanjere Junior seminarians
 

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Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga receives the offertory from the children

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