One million pilgrims expected at Anglican martyrs shrine

RELIGION

KAMPALA - With eleven days remaining to the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, the Anglican Church is prepared to receive over one million pilgrims for the 3^rd June event.

The Archbishop from Kenya, Jackson Ole will lead the celebrations that are being organised by dioceses like Central Buganda, Mityana, Luweero, Mukono and West Buganda.

The venue and security coordinator Mary Nsangi Kakembo said they have prepared facilities including washrooms to cater for more than one million pilgrims.

23 Anglican Martyrs and 22 Catholic Martyrs were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Buganda King Mwanga for accepting Christian.

Men renovating stairs at the entrance of the Martyrs Museum at the Anglican Shrine Namugongo

 
Hundreds of pilgrims from as far as Nigeria are expected converge at the Anglican and Catholic Martyrs shrines in Namugongo to mark 134 years since the martyrs were executed.

"We expect the first crew of pilgrims (from Rukungiri) to arrive on Monday. They are currently at Lyantonde," she said.

She added that the celebrations attract both tourists and religious people, adding that business persons have also been invited to mint some cash at the celebrations.

To fit the significance of the celebrations, the Martyrs museum at the Anglican shrine is also under renovation.

Inside, a new ceiling made of reeds has been placed to bring out that African touch.

 
An air conditioning system has also been placed for the comfort of the pilgrims who will visit it.

Kakembo also explained that unlike the previous years, the Church has put up houses at the shrines for the accommodation of bishops and other dignitaries who are expected at the celebrations.

"Previously, the visiting bishops were renting in close by villages where they would lose property to thieves.

The built houses will be able to save about 80 dignitaries from the trouble," she said.

At the Catholic shrine, preparations are ongoing and pilgrims continue to arrive for the celebrations.

Some of the pilgrims praying at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine

Part of the sealing that was made using reeds