Trekking To Namugongo
As Uganda marks Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3, Police have asked the public not to trek to the Namugongo shrines as the celebrations will be low-key and scientific.
Usually ,the eve of matrys day is busy and booming with all kinds of businesses and thousands of pilgrims arriving at the shrines .
From all walks of life ,the pilgrims converge at the shrines earlier and spend a few days there even after the event is done.
However ,this time,Police have maintained that only 200 invited persons will be invited to attend the occasion.
The Catholic Church has restricted this year’s Uganda Martyrs’ day celebrations at Namugongo shrines to only 200 people
Police mouthpiece Fred Enanga has urged all pilgrims who usually trek long distances to the event from various places and neighboring countries to halt walking to Namugongo.
He has also advised all pilgrims and other faith-based tourists to instead follow the celebrations on media platforms.
Enanga says the second wave of COVID 19 has influenced
”, therefore, the thousands of pilgrims from up country and neighboring DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Burundi not to trek like they usually do for this pilgrimage, but instead follow the religious celebrations on TV Radio and digital media platforms, the invitees should cooperate with our joint security teams in and outside the venue. ”Enanga says.
This will be the 2nd year in a row that celebrations are happening scientifically since the lockdown was instituted in March 2021.
The event usually attracts multitudes of people from all walks of life who come pay homage to the Ugandan Martyrs in Namugono in Wakiso district.
Trekking To Namugongo
Reverend Father George William Lubega, the Organising Committee Chairperson, says that the decision is aimed at helping them to enforce the COVID-19 preventive measures set by the government.
Lubega has similarly asked Christians not to embark on their usual walk of faith to Namugongo for the martyrs’ day prayers.
He also says that they are discouraging faithful from paying pilgrimage to the birthplaces of the Martyrs in their localities especially when the journey requires spending a night at the prayer monument to avoid conflicts with the authorities.
