Administrators at the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine in Namugongo have expressed concern after observing that a significant number of pilgrims arrived with raw food intending to cook it at the shrine premises during the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.
According to Francis Muwonge, the Shrine Administrator, most of the foot pilgrims particularly those from Eastern and Northern Uganda arrived in trucks carrying large quantities of food, firewood, saucepans, and jerricans, intending to prepare their own meals during their stay.
Security personnel raised concerns over the practice, warning that cooking food on-site poses risks to safety and complicates crowd management during large gatherings like the one at Namugongo.
“This is a security threat, especially in an event that attracts tens of thousands of people,” Muwonge stated. “As administrators, we are going to engage the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference to inform the bishops and urge them to advise Christians not to carry raw food for cooking at the site.”
This year marks the first time such a trend has been witnessed during the Martyrs Day celebrations, which took place on Tuesday, June 3, and were animated by Lugazi Diocese.
Muwonge emphasized the need for pilgrims to adhere to safety and organizational guidelines for the sake of a secure and orderly celebration.
By Francis Jjunju
5th June 2025
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