President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni interact with clergy and government officials after the Martyrs’ Day prayers at the Uganda Catholic Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, in Wakiso District, on June 3, 2024. PHOTO/ ABUBAKER LUBOWA
The government has approved a total of Shs5.668 billion to facilitate the commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs Day planned activities in Namugongo, Wakiso District.
The Uganda Martyrs Day is celebrated annually every June 3 at the Namugongo Catholic shrine, Anglican site and Muslim Martyrs shrine. According to the approved Cabinet paper by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, seen by our reporter, the Catholic Church’s estimated budget, which was approved by Cabinet, stands at Shs2.4 billion, Anglican (Shs2.2b) and for Muslims (Shs199m).
Other beneficiaries within the budget include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was allocated Shs6.9 million, Ministry of Health (Shs96.3 million), the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (Shs35.1 million) and Kira Municipality (Shs56 million). Coordinating the National organising committee will cost Shs50m, Security (Shs450m), Kampala Capital City Authority (Shs7.6m), and Martyrs walk will cost (Shs9 million), bringing the overall total to Shs5 billion.
The government is yet to hand over the money to the beneficiaries. This year’s celebrations at the Anglican site will be led by the Northern Uganda Cluster under the theme “Imitating God’s Goodness by doing Good’’.
The Northern cluster comprises six dioceses. They include; Northern Uganda, Kitgum, Lango, West Lango Diocese, Nebbi Diocese and Madi and West Nile. At the Catholic Shrine, Lugazi Diocese will be the main celebrant and the day will be marked under the theme “O Lord, let me see again, I, your pilgrim of Hope’’. According to the Lugazi Diocese budget for the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, a big chunk will be spent on liturgy and choir (Shs222.7 million) was budgeted. General venue construction works were estimated to cost Shs142.2 million, among others.
Lugazi readiness
During a press conference at Lugazi Diocese Offices on May 12, the chairperson of the organising committee, Rev Fr Godfrey Mboowa, said they had managed to raise 50 percent of their total budget. “The diocese has a big budget and we have managed to raise about 50 percent of the total estimated budget,” he said. He added: “There is still a deficit, however, we are optimistic that we shall be able to facilitate the celebrations.”
According to a February 6 letter by the chairperson of the National Organising Committee, Dr Ruth Jane Aceng, to the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquaries, the cluster expects to spend Shs2.2 billion. In the letter, Dr Aceng highlighted some of the planned activities for the celebrations; among which included church service to be led by Rev Henry Luke Orombi, the Archbishop Emeritus, hosting the government and foreign dignitaries, accommodation for foreign and key local pilgrims, feeding pilgrims and different dioceses, media and entertainment groups, among others.
In an interview with the Monitor, Bishop Godfrey Loum, the Northern Uganda Diocese Bishop and Chair for 2025 Uganda Martyrs Celebrations at Namugongo, said there are a number of pre-planned events at the Anglican site.
“We have youth programmes, programmes for children, programmes for women, and programmes for men, there will be a mission where the word will be preached,” he said.
He added: “Some of the budget is coming from the cluster dioceses, each of the dioceses has made contributions but the bigger budget is going to come from the government as usual. The cluster dioceses have each contributed Shs20 million. Also, individuals, corporate bodies and friends and well-wishers are giving their contribution.” By the time of this publication, the government had not yet released the funds to the organising dioceses. Part of the budget at the Anglican site will be spent on venue at a cost of Shs177.4 million, publicity and mobilisation (Shs175 million), among others. According to the Provincial Secretary Church of Uganda, Rev Canon William Ongeng, the Church developed the system of using clusters to organise the Martyrs’ Day celebrations every year and each cluster has its own budget.
“Clusters manage their own budgets and if there is any funding from government, that remittance is given directly to the cluster and not the Provincial Office,’’ he said. He added: “The role of the Provincial Secretariat is guidance and overseer, we oversee the actions, and we oversee the meetings, we are also part of the meetings and also we are part of the organisation.’’
