By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
The Catholic Secretariat of Uganda has announced that the Archdiocese of Mbarara in the western part of Uganda will lead the preparations and Mass celebrations for the Uganda Marty’s Day Celebration next year.
The revelation has been made by the Chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference Rt. Rev. Bishop Anthony Zziwa, of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese while leading Mass to close the National Youth Conference at the secretariat, Nsambya Kampala.
“I take this time to announce that as the Episcopal Conference, we agreed that the Archdiocese of Mbarara will lead 2022 Uganda Martyrs Celebrations, with or without Covid19” Rt. Rev. Anthony Zziwa announced.
The Uganda Marty’s Day is celebrated annually on June 3, every year at both the Catholic and Anglican Shrines in Namugongo. It is the only religious event in Africa that gathers christians and non-christians, politicians and persons from social classes across the continent and the Europe to gather in pilgrimage prayers at Namugongo.
This year’s celebration was scientific due to COVID-19 outbreak, and Masaka Diocese led the scientific celebrations with limited number.
During the event, christians commemorate the heroic 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs, who were killed by burning and beheading for their faith on orders of the then Kabaka of Buganda His Royalness Kabaka Mwanga, between 1885 and 1887.
22 Martyrs were Catholics while the 23 were Anglicans. All tortured, killed for confessing their faith.
On June 6, 1920, Pope Benedict XV beatified the 22 catholic martyrs and were declared saints on October 18, 1964, by Pope Paul VI.
Reports indicate that among the killed martyrs were Moslems however their number is still not clear.
Mbarara Archdiocese comprises of four Ecclesiastical provinces of Kabale Diocese, Rwenzori Diocese, Hoima Diocese and Mbarara Diocese.
Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha, is the current Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese.
The Archdiocese is expected to release an official programme on the organisation of the event.
