Martyrs Day; Catholic Church wants gov’t to provide Corona Virus control measures

By Gideon Peter Ssebulime

27^th Feb 2020

The Catholic Church has demanded government to provide health control measures to the deadly control Corona virus ahead of June 3^rd Martyrs day celebrations in Namugongo.

At least one million local and international pilgrims attend the annual Martyrs day celebrations at Namugongo Catholic Martyrs Shrine and this year’s animator is Masaka diocese.

Delivering an update for this year’s preparations of Martyrs day celebrations before the media at Nsambya, the Ordinary of Masaka diocesan Rt. Rev Severus Jjumba explains that Corona Virus is considered an international threat that needs much vigilances and prevention measures in place.

He also revealed that the task of preparing the Uganda Martyrs day at Namugongo demands a lot of logistics including money and materials, calling upon the general public to support Masaka for the cause.

The budget for this year’s Martyrs day celebrations at the Catholic shrine Namugongo is approximately at 950 million shillings.

While leading the Ash Wednesday Eucharistic mass on Wednesday in Parliament, Bishop Jjumba raised at least 100 million shillings in cash and pledges.

However, the Chairperson Uganda Episcopal Conference Rt. Rev Dr Joseph Anthony Zziwa once again asked the general public to keep Namugongo environmentally clean and free materials that endanger the environment like polythene bags.

This year’s pilgrimage is under the theme; “Don’t lose heart: (2 Corinthians 4:1-18)”

Mwanhile; Bishop Jjumba appointed Fr. George William Lubega to head the diocesan organizing committee for the Uganda Martyrs day celebrations and also launched the bank Accounts that will be used to raise money in the names; Namugongo 2020 Masaka Diocese in Centenary Bank Masaka Branch 3100069734