Ugandans off to Poland for World Youth Day

As many as 150 youths from different Catholic dioceses of Uganda flew out of the country Tuesday destined for Poland to attend this year's World Youth Day activities.

The seven-day event, organized by the Catholic Church and due to kick off on July 25, will be hosted by Pope Francis in Kraków.

The last event was held three years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The celebrations are expected to attract more than five million youths from all over the world.   

Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere of Kasana-Luweero Diocese is leading the Ugandan group, drawn from 19 dioceses across the country.

Bishop Paul Ssemwogerere poses for a photo with the group at Nsambya before their departure on Tuesday. (Credit: Juliet Lukwago)

The traveling group includes nuns, priests and two bishops - Ssemwogerere and Wanock of Nebbi diocese.

Before setting off, Ssemwogerere told New Vision that the Ugandans he is leading will visit different sites of interest including the birth place of the Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła).

The late pontiff, who visited Uganda in 1993, was born in the Polish town of Wadowice. He died in 2005.

This year's theme is an extract from the Book of Matthew: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy." [Mt 5:7].