350 pilgrims trek to Namugongo

Pilgrims from Kasese and Fort Portal dioceses set off to Namugongo from Virika Parish on Tuesday. PHOTO BY SCOVIA ATUHAIRE

FORT PORTAL- More than 350 pilgrims from Kasese and Fort Portal dioceses on Tuesday set off from Virika Parish, Fort Portal Diocese to Namugongo for the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3.
Kasese Diocese had 104 pilgrims, nine from Democratic Republic of Congo and more than 250 from Fort Portal Diocese.
The pilgrims are expected to reach Namugongo on May 31.

The walk that was preceded by a mass at Virika Catholic Church was led by Rev Fr Titus Winyi, the Parish priest at Virika.
Pilgrims from Fort Portal will be joined by their counterparts from Kyenjojo, Kamwenge and Kyegegwa, which also forms part of the Fort Portal Diocese.
Rev Winyi said the pilgrims will rest in 10 points; Viramariya, Rwibare, Kakabara, Kako, Kibuye, Mubende NTC, Kiganda, Swajere, Busega and Namugogo parishes.
Flagging off the pilgrims, Rev Winyi asked pilgrims to go trek with purpose not with fun saying that most people walk many kilometers and end up achieving nothing.
He added that Jesus Christ used to walk long distances and sacrificed his life for the salvation of mankind and asked Christians to borrow a leaf.
“You need to have a difference with others while walking, don’t walk for fun, walk with a reason and achieve something after,” Rev Winyi said.
Rev Fr Vincent Isingoma, the diocesan Lay Apostolate chaplain said, “It’s important for every Christian to make a pilgrim to Namugogo every June 3 to sacrifice your life to Jesus Christ if you want to have an everlasting life in heaven”.
He advised pilgrims to remain focused and avoid temptations while on the way such as theft and drinking alcohol.

Uganda Martyrs

The Uganda Martyrs are a group of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts to Christianity in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda, who were executed between January 31, 1885 and January 27, 1887. They were killed on orders of Mwanga II, the Kabaka (King) of Buganda. The deaths took place at a time when there was a three-way religious struggle for political influence at the Buganda royal court.