Kenyan pilgrims brave mosquitoes, weather

By Tony Achidria

@tonylala


The bulk of Kenyan pilgrims have now arrived at Rubaga Cathedral in Jinja.

The group of 120 is coming from different Kenyan parishes including Cheptirech, Chepkondiyo, Kipswar.

Trekking all the way from across the border, the team of nuns, brothers, sisters and youth started their long exhausting journey on May 8.

John Richard, one of the pilgrims, says the major challenge they have faced has been language barrier as they found difficulty in communicating with Ugandans after making it across.

Another one, Wesley Yanoh, points out that the mosquitoes in Uganda are too many and have been one of their major problems.

Besides the irritating bugs, the elements also battered the walkers. It has been a cocktail of rain and scorching sun along the trail. Yet, as majority of pilgrims always are, it has been determination and mental steadiness that has kept this group going on and on.

This team, whose final destination is the martyrs’ shrine at Namugongo in Kampala, plans to leave for Mbikko Parish on Saturday.

They hope to get to their endpoint on Monday June 1.

(Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

(Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)

Eight-year-old Elizabeth joined the Kenyan pilgrims in Busia. (Credit: Damalie Nabbosa)