NWSC tests Namugongo Martyrs Shrine ‘holy water’

The Uganda Catholic Secretariat has asked National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to carry out tests on the quality of the holy water, ahead of the annual June 3 Martyrs Day celebrations.

Hundreds of pilgrims who flock Namugongo to celebrate the Martyr’s Day fetch water which allegedly has healing

power from a man-made lake at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.

Hundreds of Christians have testified to have been healed of various ailments after drinking the water.

However, a recent study by Makerere University's Department of Biochemistry indicated that the ‘holy water’ contains pathogenic micro -organisms like as E. Coli, and coliforms, a type of bacteria known to cause diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, abdominal pain, fever among other ailments. 

Rev Fr Vincent Lubega, the rector of the Catholic Martyrs Shrine, said that they found it important to run quality tests to ensure that pilgrims don’t consume contaminated water.

He said that samples have already been taken by a team of experts from National Water and Sewerage Corperation (NWSC). 

NWSC spokesperson, Mr Samuel Apedel said the ‘holy water’ samples are being subjected to different tests.

Fr Lubega said that over time, they have been advising Christians to boil or treat the water before drinking it, which advise is ignored.

He expressed optimism that if the water is found to be contaminated, they expect NWSC to help the church treat and make it clean and safe for consumption.

The church recently started packaging and branding the water from the “Uganda Martyrs Lake” but few Christian buy it.

They prefer drawing their own ‘healing’ water from the lake and take it home.