The 2years of the total nation Lockdown due to covid19 pandemic, heavily affected the Catholic Church as it could not commemorate the historical day of 3rd June on which it celebrates the greatness of the Uganda Martyrs.
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Yesterday Friday 3rd June 2022, the joy and freedom of pilgrimage was restored and pilgrims from the world over specifically from various parts of the parts of Uganda, tracked to the martyrs’ shrine Namugongo to pray and remember the 22 Catholic Martyrs that were killed due to the love of their religion during the reign of the then Kabaka of Buganda Ssekabaka Daniel Mwanga Basamula-ekele around 1885 – 1887.
Aerial view of Namugongo catholic martyrs shrine
Leading this year’s celebration, Fort portal diocese made the day great and colorful within the short and abrupt preparation time, enabling the Pilgrims to attend in large numbers.
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Bishop Robert Muhirwa, bishop of Fort portal diocese and the main celebrant, thanked the almighty God for relaxing the pandemic and enabling the day happen.
“During the period of Covid-19 a lot of unlawful acts prevailed including unfairness among the married couples, 600,000 young girls were defiled and raped and many of these cases were relatives,” said Bishop Muhirwa.
The bishop also urged the Christians to change their lifestyle of being redundant and also cautioned the youths to stop roaming the streets seeking for the white collar jobs because they don’t exist.
Addressing the believers, the hosting arch bishop of Kampala Arch diocese, the most Rev Fr. Paul Ssemwogerere who was celebrating his first mature day as the diocese’s top cleric told the congregation to reflect on the year’s theme;
Baptized and sent to witness christ with love and hope as they continue to take the example of the Uganda Martyrs.
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“Take lesson from the Uganda Martyrs, let us work and walk together as brothers and sisters, our lives here are short lived,” said Arch bishop Ssemwogerere.
The Catholic Church beautified the 22 Uganda Catholic Martyrs in 1920 and on 3rd June 1964, they were canonized as Martyrs. Since then, 3rd June was marked a national holiday as a sign of paying tribute and celebrating the beauty of those who died for their faith.
