Jinja Diocese Needs shs2.2B for Successful Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations at Namugongo

The committee in charge of organizing and conducting this year's Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo on June 3 has stated that the diocese of Jinja in eastern Uganda, which has been selected to lead the event, will require a budget of 2.2 billion Ugandan shillings to ensure its success.

The Tororo Ecclesiastical Province and Uganda Episcopal Conference have entrusted Jinja, which last supervised the celebrations in 2002, to oversee the event under the theme of "Lord increase our faith" based on Luke 17:5.

Jinja Diocese Bishop Charles Martin Wamika explained to Spyreports reporters on Thursday that the reason for selecting the theme of "Lord increases our faith" was to honor the Uganda Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives due to their belief in Jesus Christ.

The committee hopes to use this theme to pray and ask for the intercession of the martyrs, so that they can also increase their faith. Bishop Wamika also revealed that a central organizing committee had been established, which would collaborate with the Uganda Catholic Secretariat and other relevant parties to prepare and implement the event successfully at Namugongo.

The organizing committee responsible for overseeing the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo consists of several key members.

The patron of the committee is the Minister for General Duties in the office of the Prime Minister, Justine Kasule Lumumba. The committee is chaired by Mr. Paul Baliraine, who is responsible for finance, and he will be assisted by Fr. Paul Musana in his capacity as deputy chairperson.

In addition to the chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, and treasurer, the organizing committee for the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo also includes several other members. Fr. Paul Okello Wandera has been appointed as the coordinator and secretary of the committee, working closely with the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC).

He will be assisted by Mr. Edward Mwondha, who has been selected as the deputy coordinator. Fr. Gerald Muto will be the treasurer of the committee, while Mr. Clement William Okello will serve as the vice chairperson of the finance committee.

The annual event is held to commemorate the 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican martyrs who were executed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887 due to their steadfast faith in Christianity.