NAMUGONGO – Anglican and Catholic bishops are holding joint prayers Tuesday morning at the Uganda Martyr’s shrine in Namugongo.
Thousands of pilgrims are expected to throng the shrine for prayers.
The prayers come just a few days away from the Martyrs’ Day celebrations, held every year at the shrine to remember the Uganda martyrs.
Already, thousands of faithful have started their journey to the shrine, in preparations for the June 3 event.
The leaders of the two religious groups, Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga (Catholic) and Archbishop Stanley Ntagali (Anglican) are expected to attend the Tuesday prayers.
Archbishop of Mbarara Paul K. Bakyenga, whose archdiocese was charged with preparing this year’s main prayers, will also join in for today’s prayers.
It’s busy times as final preparations for the Martyrs’ day are undergoing. The police has come out strongly to address security issues that often surround the event.
Ahead of the prayers, it says it has planned for adequate security, not only at the shrine, but also in areas near the location.
Food sellers have also been warned against setting camp at the shrine, with the defense that there will be designated points for food access at the shrine.
Pilgrims continue to trickle in, but 21-year-old Patience Amutuhare from Kabale Diocese got there before any of them, becomig the first pilgrim to set foot at the shrine for this year’s event.
For three weeks, she journeyed all the way to the special site with her baby.
The day is celebrated in memory of 32 Christians who were killed in the late 19th century on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda for choosing Christianity.
Source The New Vision
