Kenyan pilgrims arrive at Namugongo after 30 days

Jun 01, 2015

The Pilgrims from Kenya who have been walking for over a month have finally arrived at Namugongo. With clothes drenched in sweat, blisters on their feet, swollen ankles and strained muscles, the group of 500 trekked for over 700 kilometres. The group comprises of belivers from Machakos, Bungoma, Ki

By Tony Achidria and Damalie Nabbosa

The Pilgrims from Kenya who have been walking for over a month have finally arrived at Namugongo. With clothes drenched in sweat, blisters on their feet, swollen ankles and strained muscles, the group of 500 trekked for over 700 kilometres. The group comprises of belivers from Machakos, Bungoma, Kisumu, Nyaururu and Nyeri.


At some spots good Samaritans would stand by the road side and hand over free fruits especially mangoes, oranges and bananas to the pilgrims. At Nakibizzi on the outskirts of Jinja district, a woman stood with a bunch of bananas, plucking off and handing over a finger to each pilgrim that passed by. In Kawolo a boy aged about 10, had a basket of sugar cane for the walkers. 

The pilgrims were led by Father Justice Oyugi Ogonda of the Catholic Diocese in Eldoret.  “we have had an exciting trek from Kenya. The people of Uganda welcomed us well and were very hospitable.” He explained that it was also an opportunity to meditate and pray.

The team comprised both the elderly and the youth, Nuns, brothers and sisters.  The eldest on the team was 69 -year -old James Gatandi, who carried the cross and flag for the longest distance and time. It is his fourth time to come to Uganda for Martyrs day although it was his first time to walk. “I left my wife to look after our home. But I am happy that I have made it. It was such a good experience.”

Jackson Barmoiben, a 50 year old pilgrim was amazed at the number of children he saw walking to school. “Tell your government to keep educating children. It is good for the nation,” he said.

Upon arrival in Namugongo, the team first stopped at the Anglican Shrine to draw holy water. It is said that the stream at the Anglican shrine is where Musajanga, Kabaka Mwangas lead executioner,  washed the blood off his spear after stabbing some of the martyrs.

However two of the pilgrims who had started the initial journey couldn’t make it to Uganda because they were called back home because a relative had died. They had walked for 300km from Eldoret and ended their journey at Mumias in Kenya.

There are several other Kenyan pilgrims, numbering over 1000 who travelled to Uganda by bus.

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