Masaka diocese unveils spiritual, religious tourism site

Masaka Diocese has unveiled its first ever spiritual and religious tourism site.
Located at Kiteredde in Kyotera District, the site is in commemoration of Uganda Martyrs with St. Charles Karooli Lwanga being the lead martyr.
While commissioning the site on Monday, Masaka Diocesan Bishop   Rt. Rev Severus Jjumba hailed the Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga commonly known as Bannakarooli Brothers for coming up with such a great idea.

He said the site will also serve as a prayer place where Christians can converge and seek for divine intervention while in difficult times.

“It is going to be regularly used as a place for spiritual renewal and a centre of religious tourism,” he said.
In this homage, Bishop Jjumba, said the unveiled site has truly befitted the 60 years since the martyrs were canonized by the then Pope Paul II on October 18, 1964.

“This will truly be a memorable place because we are unveiling it 60 years after our holy martyrs were recognized by the Church. We have shown the World that we truly treasure them in our beliefs,” the prelate explained
Brother Charles Dominic Kagoye, the spokesperson of the Bannakarooli Brothers told this publication that the tourism site will attract local pilgrims and other pilgrims  from  from countries like Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi who  may fail to make it to Namugongo Martyrs Shine on  June 3 every year.

“We are located a few kilometres away from the Uganda – Tanzania border (Mutukula) and many pilgrims are every year seen passing along this route looking a bit tired. They have been coming to our residence even before and we expect more to come with such magnificent site in place,” he said.
He further added: “We will be   holding prayers and pilgrims will be free to make special prayer requests to their martyrs since we have put different shrines symbolizing all the 24 Catholic Martyrs from the different regions of the country.”

Brother Hillary Kazora, the leader of Bannakarooli Brothers congregation (Superior General) ,said more monuments are yet to be erected at the site so that  Christians really feel the presence of their Uganda Martyrs.
“St. Charles Lwanga is the patron of our congregation and his monument has already been put in place. With time, others will also be erected so that the site becomes a full-fledged memorial spiritual and religious tourism site,” he explained.

The Brothers of St Charles Lwanga Congregation was  founded and named in honor of the leader of the Martyrs of Uganda, St. Charles Lwanga in 1927 by Bishop Henri Streicher, (1863 – 1952). The Congregation has produced hundreds of Brothers from Kenya, Tanzania and USA with its headquarters at Kiteredde Hill in Kyotera District.