The Catholic Church is considering a rotational regional celebration for Uganda Martyrs Day due to the surging number of attendees and the high costs involved in organizing the event. This proposal comes in response to the growing logistical challenges of hosting the annual pilgrimage at the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.
Msgr John Baptist Kauta, the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, addressed journalists today, highlighting the difficulties in managing the event at a single location.
“The challenges all along have been the same. Some Catholic bishops propose holding this day regionally, but the challenge is believers want to congregate at the real spot where the martyrs died,” Msgr. Kauta explained.
One of the primary issues is the increasing number of pilgrims flocking to Namugongo, a site too small to accommodate the masses.
“The numbers have increased but the place is small,” Kauta noted.
Every year on June 3rd, nearly a million pilgrims descend on the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine to honor the memory of the Uganda Martyrs, many choosing to walk to the venue to symbolize the martyrs' final journey.
This year, the Nebbi Catholic Diocese will spearhead the organization and prayers for the event, with an estimated budget of at least Shs 2 billion. The preparations for the celebration have been extensive, as detailed by Rt Rev Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, the Episcopal Administrator of the diocese and Archbishop-elect of Gulu.
“The process started a year ago as soon as we were informed that we were the organizers. Everyone has done great, and the preparations have moved well,” Wokorach stated.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining the day’s spiritual significance for Christians.
Nebbi Catholic Diocese last organized the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations in 2007. This year’s theme, “Me And My Household Shall Serve The Lord,” underscores the commitment to faith and service within the Christian community.
As the event draws near, the discussion about regional rotation continues, weighing the practicality of logistics against the pilgrims' deep-rooted desire to celebrate at Namugongo. The church faces a delicate balance in honoring tradition while addressing the logistical and financial strains of such a significant religious event.
In the coming years, the decision to potentially rotate the celebrations regionally may reshape how the Uganda Martyrs Day is observed, aiming to make it more accessible and manageable for all involved while preserving its profound spiritual heritage.
Uganda Martyrs Day is an annual event held on June 3rd to commemorate the 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts who were martyred between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, then king of Buganda. These martyrs were killed for their refusal to renounce Christianity, which they had adopted following the arrival of missionaries in Uganda.
