Nebbi Diocese Prepares for Annual Martyrs’ Day Celebrations

Nebbi Catholic Diocese is gearing up for its annual pilgrimage to the Namugongo Martyrs’ shrine.

This year’s celebrations, organized by Nebbi Catholic Diocese, will be themed “But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord,” inspired by Joshua 24:15 from the Bible.

An estimated 724 foot pilgrims from various parishes expected to participate in the symbolic journey of faith ahead of this year’s Martyr celebrations on June 3, 2024.

Fr. Nerris Oyirwoth, the general day celebration secretary of the central organizing committee for this year’s Martyrs’ Day celebration, revealed that apart from the foot pilgrims, an additional 2,102 pilgrims from the diocese are expected to participate in this year’s event.

He added that the foot pilgrims will be officially flagged off by His Grace Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, the Diocesan Administrator of Nebbi Catholic Diocese, at Uganda Martyrs Chapel, Namrwodho-Nebbi Cathedral Parish.

The foot pilgrims, hailing from 22 parishes across the diocese, are set to commence their approximately 450-kilometer trek on May 15th, 2024.

Notably, Pakwach Catholic Parish leads in the number of foot pilgrims with 184 participants, followed by Nebbi Cathedral Parish with 110, Zumbo Catholic Parish with 87, and Orussi Catholic Parish with 77, according to information shared by the organizers.

Rev. Fr. Emmauel Ocokuru, the official diocesan spokesperson for the Martyr’s Day celebrations, revealed that foot pilgrims from Warr, Nyapea, Nebbi, Uleppi, and Angal Deaneries are expected to assemble at the Diocesan Centre on May 14, 2024. Fr. Ocokuru further explained that foot pilgrims from Pakwach will gather at the Pakwach Parish Centre before merging with those from the Diocesan Centre.

“Those from Pakwach Deanery will converge at Pakwach Parish Centre and await the others from the Diocesan Centre,” stated Fr. Ocokuru.

Each year, Christians from diverse backgrounds embark on this pilgrimage to Namugongo to honor the memory of 45 Christian converts (22 Catholics and 23 Protestants) who were martyred between 1885 and 1886 under the command of Kabaka Mwanga II, the then King of Buganda.