Clare N
The Catholic Diocese of Kasese has officially launched preparations for the 2026 Namugongo pilgrimage, during which it will lead the national celebrations of Uganda Martyrs Day on June 3 under theme “Christ is alive in you and me.”
Speaking during a press briefing at Kasese Cathedral Parish yesterday, the Bishop of Kasese, Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira, announced the formal start of preparations, revealing that Kasese will not only guide the national pilgrimage but also welcome international pilgrims who travel from far and near to honor the Uganda Martyrs.
Kasese as a special needs district
Bishop Kibira, who has sof ar led Kasese Diocese for 11 years, described Kasese which is located on the country’s periphery, as a district with special needs. He revealed that its for this reason that the Diocese has budgeted for approximately 4.5 billion Ugandan shillings to support transportation for pilgrims from mountainous regions, facilitate various activities, sustain choirs, and cover other essential requirements. He appealed to all people of goodwill to contribute toward making the celebration memorable.
The Theme
Explaining the chosen theme as derived from Galatians 2:19-10, the 67 year old prelate argued that “Christ is alive in you and me” reflects the belief that Christ lives in every person regardless of religious affiliations.
He added that the pilgrimage will thus offer an opportunity to recognize Christ’s presence in one another, inspiring love, unity, and peaceful coexistence among all people, just like the Uganda Martyrs who represented diverse religions.
Kasese follows Fort Portal Diocese, in the Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province, which led the 2022 celebrations with a budget of one billion shillings. Last year 2024, successfuly led Namugongo celebrations with the initial budget of 3.8bn which was later cut to 1.9bn.