The Catholic Church is contemplating celebrating the Uganda Martyrs Day on a rotational regional basis due to the surging numbers and the high cost of organizing such a day.
Msgr John Baptist Kauta, the secretary general of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, told journalists today that it had become a big challenge to host the event at one spot.
“The challenges all along have been the same. Some Catholic bishops propose holding this day regionally but the challenge is believers want to congregate at the real spot where the martyrs died,” Kauta said.
He said the challenges majorly lie in the surging numbers of pilgrims yet the place is small to in accommodate these numbers.
“The numbers have increased but the place is small,” he said.
Every year on June 3, close to a million pilgrims descend on Namugongo Martyrs Shrine to celebrate the day. Most of the pilgrims choose to walk to the venue because the martyrs walked to their death.
Nebbi Catholic Diocese will lead this year’s prayers and organization of the celebrations which are expected to cost at least Shs 2 billion.
The episcopal administrator of the diocese who is the archbishop elect of Gulu Rt Rev Raphael p’Mony Wokorach said they have taken a year preparing for this event.
“The process started a year as soon as we were told that we were the organizers. Everyone has done great and the preparations have moved well,” Wokorach said. He urged Christians to give the day it’s spiritual significance.
Nebbi last organized the day in 2007.
The theme for this year’s event is: Me And My Household Shall Serve The Lord.
