The struggle for water at Namugongo

Pilgrims fetching the holy water

While the service is ongoing at the Anglican shrines, several pilgrims are not attending the prayers and are enduring the long queues to fetch holy water.

The water is in the nearby thicket, surrounded with several trees and grass. It is a little distance from the place where the congregation has gathered for prayers.

Many of the pilgrims have either a 5, 3 or 2 litre jerry cans to use for fetching the holy water. Despite the long lines, the pilgrims are calmly awaiting their turn to fetch water from the modernised taps facility.

The holy water is believed to be at the spot where the Uganda Martyrs were killed in that spot. It is believed that a miraculous water source sprang into existence and many people who drink the water or bathe it testifying to getting healing from ailments.

Several priests are praying for the jerrycans with the holy water to bless it. Pilgrims have on several occasions been advised by the church to first boil the water before drinking it, however some prefer to drink it unboiled saying it is holy water and blessings will evaporate if it is boiled.

Sanitation experts have warned of diseases that could come out of taking the water unboiled.