Uganda Martyrs are inspirational - Pope Francis

By John Agaba

POPE Francis on Saturday paid homage to the 45 Uganda Martyrs at the newly renovated Catholic shrine in Namugongo, with emphasis on extending help to the needy, working with others to achieve a common good and defending God’s gift of life to “build a more just society”.

In a homily, rendered in English and Latin, the Holy Father emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit and the Uganda Martyrs in the history of Christ’s Church, saying their example continued to “inspire people throughout the world”.

It was the Holy Father’s maiden visit to the grounds where over 20 of the 45 Uganda martyrs were put to the pyre and burnt to death on royal order between 1885 and 1887. The Pontiff stressed the need to be humble, meek, and kind to live full lives that bring lasting joy and peace.

The Saturday’s homage was written in the stars. Tens of thousands of people had started to flock at the Shrine, beneath which Saint Charles Lwanga was martyred, as early as Friday evening. They braved rain to spend a night holding a vigil at the martyrs’ shrine.

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And by 9:14 am, Saturday, when the Pope was ushered in, aboard his open air popemobile, the grounds were a mad-dash of tens of thousands of faithful, all clamoring to have a glimpse of the Holy Father.

There were ululations. There were ‘flag-wavings’. There was blowing of horns. Some elderly women in the crowds had tears in their eyes. Indeed this was God’s shepherd in their midst. And this was a moment they had been waiting for.

The ululations didn’t stop until Pope Francis had been taken around the newly built open air altar — in his open air popemobile — to wave at the faithful attending the celebrations and changed his robes to start mass that marked the 50th anniversary of the canonization of Uganda martyrs.

But earlier, before the event, presidential aspirant Forum For Democratic Change’s, Dr. Kizza Besigye, had stolen the show, when he arrived, at 7:58, to thunderous salutations from the thick crowds. The opposition leader was followed by former premier Amama Mbabazi, also vying for the presidency, to arrive. Mbabazi had a moment with his successor Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, before taking his seat in a senior citizens pavilion.

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The mood was orchestra. It was soft, calm, and mellow. There was this sense of ‘we are the chosen few, waiting for our shepherd’ that hang in the air. It made one proud to be Christian.   

When President Yoweri Museveni arrived with wife Janet in his Mercedes S500, the dignitaries in the politician and senior citizens’ pavilion stood to show respect to the President. Mbabazi too stood. But Besigye and fellow presidential hopeful Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba kept their seat.

The Gospel stressed happy are the poor in spirit, happy are the humble, theirs was the Kingdom of God. And that was what Pope Francis emphasized: “the worldly pleasures and earthly power do not bring lasting joy and peace. Rather, fidelity to God, honesty and integrity of life, and genuine concern for the good of others bring us that peace.”

The Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi too graced the function. The Ssabasajja was flanked by his Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga. There was the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir. Mass ended at about 11:24am.

And, by the time Pope Francis was driven off in his SCVI KIA automobile to address the youths at Kololo Independence grounds, it was clear the faithful at Namugongo had drunk to their fill the Pope and his message. The choir was another beautiful revelation.