Masaka Diocese needs Shs1b for Martyrs Day celebrations
Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu John Baptist Odama (centre) welcomes pilgrims for the Martyrs Day Celebrations in Namugongo, last year. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Masaka Diocesan leaders, who are in charge of preparations for next year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, Wakiso District, are mobilising Shs1 billion for the day.
The day is celebrated every June 3 to commemorate the 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs, who were burnt to death for their faith at the hands of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda Kingdom between 1885 and 1887.
Of the total, 22 were Catholics while 23 were Anglicans.
Masaka Diocese was chosen by the Uganda Episcopal Conference to lead 2020 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations where the new Bishop of Masaka, Serverus Jjumba, will be the main celebrant.
Last year, it was Gulu Archdiocese in charge of the celebrations.
Rev Fr Peter Paul Ssemakula, the diocesan treasurer, said to have a successful and colourful event, the diocese has to raise the money by May next year.
“The budget for organising the event has risen from Shs900m, which Gulu Archdiocese used last year to Shs1b due to inflation,” he said during an interview on Monday.
Fr Ssemakula said all parishes, Catholic-founded institutions including schools and hospitals, businesspeople, priests, Catholic associations, among others, will pay a certain amount of money to support the cause .
“The fundraising for Martyrs Day celebrations has already started and we have opened up an account in Centenary Bank over the same cause,” Fr Ssemakula added.
He said a number of activities including marathons, dinners, among others, shall be organised to raise funds.
Masaka Diocese organising committee, led by Rev Fr George William Lubega, comprises 11 committee members.
Other sub-committees include; liturgy, which will be led by Fr Steven Ssenkubuge and Mr Damiano Kato, while Fr Bonny Kalyesubula will lead the construction department at Namugongo. Security will be led by Rt Maj Joseph Mugerwa, while Fr Pascal Ssewalu and Fr Ronald Mayanja will be in charge of communication and publication.
According to Bishop Jjumba, every week on Tuesday, each Catholic parish will organise a special mass in remembrance of Uganda Martyrs.
“This is intended to strengthen faith among Christians through their Uganda Martyrs,” he said.
Three of Uganda Martyrs were from Masaka Diocese. These include; Charles Lwanga, from Birinzi in Bukakkata Sub-county, Bruno Sserunkuuma whose ancestry home is at Ssaza Village, Katwe-Butego Division, Masaka Municipality and John Mary Muzeyi, from Minziiro on the Uganda-Tanzania border.
Masaka Diocese is believed to have the biggest Catholic population in Uganda with 1,077,508 believers and 54 parishes. Last year Gulu was in charge of the celebrations.
