Sh720m for Martyrs Day, Tororo to host fete

PIC: Namugongo Martyrs Shrine: Tororo Archdiocese has been chosen to host the 2018 Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3

RELIGION | UGANDA MARTYRS

KAMPALA - Preparations for the June 3 Martyrs' Day celebrations at the Namugongo Martyrs' Shrine are in high gear with an estimated budget of sh720m, the secretary general of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, has revealed.

Kauta also revealed that this year's event will be hosted by Tororo Archdiocese under the theme; Let us walk in the light of God as a family (1 John 1:5-10).

During a meeting for the preparations held at the Catholic Secretariat in Nsambya, Kampala, Kauta said different committees, including liturgy, protocol, security and transport had been instituted.

Others committees are publicity and communication, catering and welfare, construction and decoration, finance, pilgrims, medical and ushering.

Kauta noted that the celebrations will coincide with a fete to mark 100 year since the martyrdom of the two catechists from Paimol, Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa, who were killed in 1918.

The two blessed martyrs are usually commemorated on October 18, but they will be remembered in a special way on June 3.

In addition, a special prayer (novena) will be dedicated to the martyrs. The prayer is intended for the success of the June 3 celebrations and for the pilgrims who will attend the 2018 celebration.

"We have formulated different strategies to help raise the sh720m. One of them is assigning our 45 parishes in the Archdiocese to raise sh220m. We also appeal to well-wishers to support the noble cause, Fr Kevin Musisi, the Tororo Archdiocese vicar general, said.

He added: "Our Archdiocese was chosen to lead this year's celebrate, we thank Uganda Episcopal Conference for another chance they have given us.
Tororo last presided over the Martyrs Day celebrations in 1998, which is 20 years.

The occasion that attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world is held at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, where most of the 22 Catholic martyrs were burnt to ashes.

Tororo ecclesiastical Archdiocese comprises of the Dioceses of Jinja, Moroto, Soroti, Kotido, and Tororo itself.