Day 2: Lira pilgrims walk for 45km

Lira foot pilgrims yesterday arrived at Loro in Oyam district on the first leg of their two weeks journey to Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo.

The excited pilgrims, most of them youth marched while carrying their bags on their backs and had their first stop over at Corner Mowlem, Aboke  in Kole district, about 21km from Lira town.

They had another stop over at Agulurude in Oyam district. They had their lunch at Loro, 45km from Lira town where they are spent their night.

At Agulurude where they rested, the youthful pilgrims were seen doing exercise while the elderly rested under trees.

Alfred Okello who is the coordinator of the pilgrims said they reached Loro well with the first group arriving at 13:20 and the second group at 14:00 hours.

Okello said they are going to have mass and spend the night at Loro before resuming the journey after midnight and will rest again at Dima in Kiryandongo district.

He said they were facing challenges controlling the large number of people from the moving vehicles.

Many of the pilgrims said they were walking on foot so that God can help them in their various problems.

Rev. Fr. Alex Eyoko said he is walking with the pilgrims because his diocese is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and he is  trying to show the world that he can live in his faith by action. He also wants to share the suffering of the Uganda martyrs and he is enjoying the walking.

Rev. Fr. Moses Owani from Teboke Parish, lira Diocese a newly ordained priest said he is walking to thank God especially for making him a priest. He said the walk is making him stronger in faith.

"To make it to priesthood is not easy. I can compare this journey to Namugongo with the journey to priesthood, its hard but very sweet," he said.  

Last year, a pregnant pilgrim from Lira Catholic diocese died at Bishop Asili health centre 1V in Luwero where she was admitted before complaining of severe abdominal pain at Kafu.

Scovia Moro a resident of Ober parish in Barr Sub County was part of the 470 pilgrims who started their journey on May 18th