Papal Nuncio breaks ground for Martyrs'' Shrine

By Juliet Lukwago                        

MUNYONYO - After about  two years of planning, the construction of the U$6m Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Munyonyo is finally on course to start.

The Sunday ground breaking ceremony was presided over by Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael August Blume, together with Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Vicar General of Kampala, Msgr Charles Kasibante who represented the Archbishop Dr Cpyrian Kizito Lwanga; chancellor of Kampala, Fr Dr Joseph Ssebunnya among others.

The Rev Fr. Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, promoter of the Uganda Martyrs devotion, took the congregation through the martyrdom of St Andrea Kaggwa and his colleagues, from the time Kabaka Mwanga decided to execute them in 1885 to 1887.

An artistic impression of what the Munyonyo matryrs' shrine will look like. PHOTO/Juliet Lukwago

Papal Nuncio Blume  said: “The martyrs are our symbol of faith. They made Uganda proud by sacrificing their lives for what they believed in.”

“As Christians, we should emulate them, and love God, and preach love, hate hatred, jealousy and other habits that make us unclean in the eyes of God,” Blume said.

(L-R) Vicar General of Kampala, Msgr Charles Kasibante; Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael Blume; Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala; Msgr John Baptist Kauta, Secretary for Episcopal Conference; Fr Achillies Mayanja (Parish Priest Kasanga); Fr Charles Ssengendo and others during ground-breaking of Munyonyo Martyrs' Shrine on Sunday, May 3, 2015
PHOTO/JULIET LUKWAGO 

Meanwhile, Fr Dr Marion Golab Kajubi a Polish priest and the Rector of Munyonyo Martyr’s Shrine, revealed that the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine will be similar to the minor Basilica of Namugongo, the Uganda Martyrs’ main shrine where most of the martyrs were burnt to death.

He said that the shrine’s church will be built in phases, with the first phase to cost U$1.8m. It will have two floors of 1400 squares metres. It will have two halls including a conference hall.

Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala gives a speech after the ground breaking ceremony. PHOTO/Juliet Lukwago

Dr Golab said that the architectual plans would be submitted to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and as soon as they are approved, the construction work would begin immediately.

He further revealed they also have plans to put up a monument at Munyonyo, symbolising the Uganda Martyrs.

“The Munyonyo shrine provides a unique and highly symbolic setting for ecumenical meetings as well as being the site where three Catholics willingly gave up their life for Christ,” Golab said.