Believers world over, turned up on June 3 in large numbers, at Uganda Martyrs Namugongo shrine to commemorate the mighty Uganda martyrs.
Aerial view of Pilgrims at Namugongo 2022
The martyrs, include 22 catholic and 23 Anglican converts who were brutally killed on orders of Kabaka mwanga II over sticking to the Christian faith, and denouncing the gods of their ancestors of the time.
The holy Mass of the day, was led by the Rt. Rev Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki the ordinary of Fort Portal diocese, the host diocese of June 3 2022 at Namugongo, along side other Bishops like His grace Paul Ssemogerere of Kampala archdiocese, Bishop Acquirinus Francis Kibira of Kasese diocese, His grace Lambert Bainomugisha among others.
The procession of Bishops led by His grace Paul Ssemogerere
The Namugongo catholic Shrine function, was also graced by the King of Tooro, his majesty Oyo Nyimba, Robina Nabbanja the prime minister of Uganda, Rt.Hon Annitah Annet Among the speaker f Parliament, leader of opposition of Uganda, the clergy religious among other Pilgrims.
From R, King Oyo Nyimba, Robina Nabbanja and Annita Among during Mass on 3rd June
Bishop Muhiirwa Delivers touching homily
In his homily to about two million pilgrims, Bishop Muhiirwa noted that the blood shed by Martyrs acted as the seed of faith to the rest of Christians.
He also pointed out that obedience of martyrs to God should be adapted as a virtue and lesson by the rest of Ugandans for the benefit of the public and theirfaith.
Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki, delivers a touching homily to thousands at Namugongo.
The Fort Portal diocesan ordinary, condemned the practice of double dealing Christians who attend prayers on Sunday but rush to witch doctors in case of any sickness.
He for this reason appealed to Christians to emulate the martyrs faith, turn away completely from witchcraft and entrust themselves to the one and only God.
The Bishop, also hinted on the current injustices in the country including murder, unrightfully detention of people, abortion among others. He directed politicians to seek St. Joseph Balikuddembe’s intercession in fighting all these.
Balikuddembe, is also the patron saint of politicians.
Referring to chastity and purity, Bishop Muhiirwa preached against some of the intensified practices in the Covid 19 era, like teenage pregnancies which he partly attributed to incest, sex for grades in higher learning institutions among others.
He called upon Christians to look at Uganda martyrs as their life role models.
Uganda worryingly leading in Alcoholism
The Bishop requested that Ugandans embrace the virtue of temperance since Uganda takes up position one in alcohol consuming in East Africa, and the 7th in Africa.
“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.
He appealed to believers, to pray through St Bruno Sserunkuma , a patron saint of temperance to desist from excessive consumption of alcohol.
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.
Rt. Honourables Nabbanja( in yellow ) and Annita Among during martyr’s day offertory
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.
Choristers hailed, rise Fort Portal flag high
Dressed in the Tooro traditional wear, the lady choristers appeared in their Busuuti, where as men appeared in kanzu and coats. The voices double reflected their physical smartness which attracted a lot of attention from pilgrims and the entire congregation.
The Fort Portal Choir that left many yearning for more of their songs
The songs sang during mass, clearly depicted all languages within the diocese of Fort Portal like Lubwisi, Runyankore Rukiga, Runyoro Rutooro, Lukhonzo, Swahili, among others.
English, Latin And Nigerian languages were included reflecting on the setting of the church, and the event being international.
Fr. Joseph Musana, said the 300 choir was trained at a fast rate and that the selection was done in favor of who grasped fast. This was due to the limited time at hand for the choir to prepare for the day.
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.
