With just two days to the martyrs’ day celebrations, a group of pilgrims from Kenya has entered Uganda to pray for peace in Kenya as the country prepares for the August general elections.
The pilgrims are walking in small groups, holding hands and singing hymns with light luggage and water containers occasionally resting under tree shades to re energise for the remaining journey to Namugongo Shrine in Kampala.
Veronica Neima one of the pilgrims from Central Kenya, Nyadero county says they are from about 7 arch dioceses from the region, that include Nyei, Nairobi and Eldoret among others.
Neima who has been trekking to Namugongo for last 18 years says this is time for Christians to appreciate and demonstrate their faith in Christ like the Uganda Martyrs’ did several years ago.
Joined by believers from Lira, Sironko and Tororo dioceses, the Kenyan pilgrims stopped for the night at St Karoli Lwanga Parish in Mbiko Bukwe district before proceeding to Namugongo this morning.
Meanwhile, over 500 pilgrims have so far been registered at Namugongo catholic shrine with another 2.5M expected for the June 3rd Martyrs’ Day celebrations.
According to chairman organizing committee Fr. Jude Ssemambo, this figure only covers those who endeavor to register but a good number enters the shrine without being registered.
He thus appeals to pilgrims to ensure they are registered for easy management.
