Over three million attend Uganda Martyrs Day

Over three (3) million Christians have attended the 3 June Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at the Namugongo shrine.

Uganda’s New Vision newspaper quoted Assistant Inspector General of Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi as saying, “there were over 3 million people inside the ‘holy’ grounds today.”

Media reports in Uganda spoke of pilgrims taking up their places at Namugongo as early as 5 am for the Eucharistic celebration that only started at 10 hrs.

Many pilgrims arrived at Namugongo on foot. Others were said to have come from countries as far as the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Rwanda, Nigeria, Southern Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia among others.

In his homily at the celebrations, Bishop Joseph Franzelli of Lira Diocese, in Uganda, reminded those present of the importance of their faith. He said faith should be lived through action. Christians, in particular, must demonstrate good example to those around them: In families, at places of work, school, offices and even in parliament, he said to much applause from the congregation.

Bishop Franzelli outlined corruption, dishonesty, immorality, violence, injustice, discrimination, abuse of power, trampling on the rights of the poor and the marignalisation of other members of society as vices that a Christian should speak out against. A true Christian, Franzelli said, should not be afraid of being unpopular when he or she speaks out.

The Lira Diocese choir which led the celebrations rose to the occasion and sang songs in Langi, Luganda, Runyakitara and English.

President Yoweri Museveni with his Government entourage also attended the Mass.

The 3 June Uganda Martyrs’ Day annually commemorates the martyrdom of mostly young, Ugandan men who converted to Christianity between the years 1885 and 1887.  The conversions so outraged the then King of Buganda, Kabaka Mwanga II that he ordered the converts to be burnt to death.  

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