Munyonyo martyrs shrine becomes parish

The Kampala Archdiocese has turned Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine into a fully-fledged Catholic parish, as revealed by Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

It is the location where the Uganda martyrs started their journey headed for execution at Namugongo over a century ago.

Lwanga was speaking during the celebration of the Parish Day of St Agnes Catholic Parish Kibuye-Makindye recently.

He said Munyonyo was turned into a parish in remembrance of Pope Francis's pilgrimage to the shrine during his visit in November last year.

On his first ever visit to Uganda, the pope also made a pilgrimage to Namugongo where he celebrated the 50th anniversary of the canonization of the martyrs - an event delayed for a whole year in anticipation of the pontiff's visit.

They were canonized in Rome on October 18, 1964.

As a parish, Munyonyo will take St. Ponsiano Ngondwe sub-parish Kyamula.

The Archbishop thanked the Christians of Nsambya, Ggaba and Kibuye-Makindye parishes for their support towards Munyonyo.

Munyonyo is headed by the Franciscans Fathers, a religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It will be 64th Catholic Parish in Kampala Archdiocese.

Andrew Kaggwa and Denis Ssebuggwaawo were killed at this very spot while Ponsiano Ngondwe was killed at Kyamula where St Ponsiano Ngondwe sub-parish is located.