By Immaculate Tusingwire MMS and Benedict Mukoni……………………………….
Thousands of devoted Catholic pilgrims from Uganda, Africa and beyond embark on a journey to Namugongo every year, braving heat, rain, and rough terrain to Commemorate the Feast of the Uganda Martyrs’ Day on June 03, 2025. Some pilgrims walk for over a week, demonstrating their determination and devotion.
At the age of 75, Sr. Caroline Pifwa, a Little Sister of Mary Immaculate of Gulu (LSMIG), started her journey on foot to Namugongo with 200 other pilgrims from Nebbi on 15th of May and arrived on 27th May.
Braving the journey of 460 kilometers, her intentions were clear: To thank God for the Jubilee Year of Hope; to pray for all humanity, for the New Pope, for the New Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nebbi; to thank God for the 50 years in religious life and praying for the success of their forthcoming General Chapter. Even though Sr. Caroline had these as her major intentions, she intended also to pray for her family especially her brother who is a priest and for all those who have asked for her prayers.
Sharing her experience on arrival, Sr. Caroline said, ‘I have been healed spiritually through the Uganda Martyrs, and I have been asking them to intercede for me, I know that going forward, even after my Golden Jubilee, God will help me”.
A true definition of a pilgrim of hope, one could not tell that the 75-year-old sister had just completed a journey of 460 kilometers, she shared that she felt so light and so happy for having taken this journey which she described as healing and renewing.
With radiating joy, peace and gratitude, she told me about her set mate, Sr. Mary Rufina Aling, LSMIG, aged 75 and is similarly celebrating her Golden Jubilee this Year. Sr. Mary had walked from Gulu which is roughly 330 kilometers. Her prayer was of thanksgiving for the 50 years of her religious life and for the gift of her parents who are both still alive and in good health. Like her mate, she was praying that their coming General Chapter will be fruitful.
The Uganda Martyrs’ Day Commemoration is held annually on June 03, led by a different diocese every year. The 2025 Martyrs’ Day commemoration was led by Lugazi Diocese who triumphantly arrived at the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine on June 1, 2025, filling the atmosphere with songs of praise and worship ahead of the grand commemoration.
Under the theme: “Oh Lord, let me see again, I, your pilgrim of Hope,” the commemoration commenced with a procession of bishops and priests, to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which was led by Bishop Christopher Kakooza of Lugazi Diocese in commemoration of the courage that Uganda Martyrs had in their faith. It was inclusive in nature that the first reading was taken by a blind person.
In his homily, Bishop Kakooza told pilgrims that a pilgrimage of hope is an eternal spiritual journey that unfolds in daily life through prayer and acts of charity. All pilgrims participate in this spiritual journey in communion with God and others, he added.
“Though full of challenges, the pilgrimage of hope is a journey of resilience, moments of doubt and suffering but hope enables us to persevere. Hope reminds us that our struggles are temporary. The holy martyrs of Uganda were inspired to understand this and were ready to suffer in hope of what was to come.” Bishop Kakooza comforted the pilgrims.
The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, His Grace Paul Ssemogerere Congratulated Lugazi Diocese under the reign of Bishop Kakooza saying “You have offered us not just a celebration, but a deeply moving spiritual encounter. We thank you for shepherding this mission with clarity, grace, and zeal.”
According to His Grace Ssemogerere, pilgrims are not only merely remembering history, but they are reawakening a national conscience and renewing a flame of hope, that no darkness can extinguish.
He appealed to the pilgrims to pray through the Martyrs for clarity in a time when the world tempts and compromise them. He also urged the congregation to avoid tribalism and sectarianism politics because unity in Christ is stronger than any ethnic bond.
“We are all one in Christ Jesus, as we read in Galatians 3. Let us reject hatred, reject division and violence. Let us say no to bad language. Let our only label be, we are all children of God.” His grace noted.
The out-going Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, H.E. Luigi Bianco, was grateful for his service as the apostolic nuncio in Uganda. He expressed gratitude to all the people of Uganda for being hospitable and collaborative during his mission in Uganda.
