Believers world over, turned up on June 3 in large numbers, at Uganda Martyrs Namugongo shrine to commemorate the mighty Uganda martyrs.
“As consequeses of alcoholism in Uganda, we have had increased cases of domestic violence, poverty, related health problems including mental. Just go to Butabika and see what is happening there, the highest number of victims include the youth who excessively consume drugs as well” remarked Bishop Muhiirwa.
Nabbanja condemns noise pollution at Uganda Martyrs’ shrine Namugongo during prayer time
Over the years, the church has severally appealed to the government to prevent people with diverse intentions irrelevant to prayers from showing up at Namugongo.
The church, argues that they divert minds of pilgrims and disrupt their prayers. At the catholic shrine, for instance, pilgrims pray for almost every other hour but they are at times interrupted by the noise from the fanfare outside the shrines.
Nabbanja, who represented the President as the chief guest at the Catholic Basilica, noted with concern the excessive noise from believers towards mass commencement.
Evoking her powers as Prime Minister, Nabbanja ordered for closure of all places generating noise with immediate effect to allow peaceful and uninterrupted prayers at the two sites .
Her orders, included switching off all sideline music of all kinds for the congregation to give ample time to the main event’s music which was mass. She assured the clergy and congregants that that was the last time such fanfares were allowed in prayer.
Museveni hails Martyrs upon rejecting Mwanga’s corruption
President Yoweri Museveni in his speech read by Nabbanja, applauded the martyr’s resistance as greatest potential of Ugandans, who as new young converts resisted the ignorance and corruption of Kabaka Mwanga II.
He noted that from their resistance, thousands were enlightened and defeated the violence of traditional leaders against the human race.
Nevertheless, Museveni noted that martyrs getting actors, promotes all forms of sectarianism which does not rhyme with the principle of religion.
He noted, that for years the religion has ended up promoting sectarian ideologies manifested in social contrasts and political grouping, which sow civil wars and mistrust among the new believers.
Museveni appreciates the fact that different religions have now come together under the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda-IRCU to address common challenges.
To him, religions should desist from promoting sectarian tendencies and focus on projects that will draw them out of poverty.
Among rewards the youngest foot pilgrim
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among gave out $1000 (approximately 3.5 million Shillings) to the youngest and oldest foot pilgrims at the shrine.
Bernaldo Tibyangye 100, who happened to be the oldest Pilgrim from Bushenyi, was rewarded with a certificate in addition to the token, while Brian Kwesiga 14, was recognised the youngest foot Pilgrim from Fort Portal.
According to Among, Kwesiga not only received the token, but earned himself a school time full bursary. This, follows the young pilgrim’s prayer request of acquiring school dues through out his journey.
3rd June 2022 in visual-Audio form
This, is the second time the choir branding the diocese, the first time being in 1997 the only time the diocese led martyr’s day. The then choristers were led by Msgr. Bonaventure kasaija, a Tooro liturgical music icon whose songs are still frequently used in daily Holy Masses.