Uganda Martyrs' Day Celebrations are held every 3rd June at the Uganda Martyrs' Shrine Namugongo in Kampala. Millions of people from near and far make pilgrimage to the Holy shrine. A pilgrimage will solidify something that is growing within you. Perhaps you doubt what you're doing now with your life: the pilgrimage may end that doubt.
The Diocese of Arua is leading this year’s Uganda Martyrs’ day celebrations on the 3rd June 2011. The theme is: “UNITED IN JOY AND SUFFERING LIKE OUR UGANDA MARTYRS”. Preparation meetings are held at both Diiocesan and National levels. All the meetings are geared towards forming one central committee through cooperation, coalition, coordination and harmony.
So far the Central Organizing Committee which meets at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat, has registered 95 Knights of St. Matia Mulumba pilgrims from Nigeria. As usual, Uganda still hopes to receive more pilgrims from all over the world: From America, Canada, Europe, Asia, and all over Africa.
According to the Central Organizing Committee, pilgrim’s registrations are going on in different parts of the world and they hope to have all the records by mid May 2011.
Generally, the preparation committee appears to be confident and hopeful. However, it faces financial challenges due the fact that it is not easy to raise all the required funds within a limited time. Different subcommittees are working around the clock to beat deadlines. Yet not even ¼ of the total collection has been realized. The Committee calls for more kind and generous hands for contributions.
The committee is grateful to all who sacrifice to make ends meet, the radios that make announcements and DJ mentions at no cost, the hands that have generously contributed, those intending and planning to make contributions.
CELEBRATING THE UGANDA MARTYRS' DAY
Thousands Commemorate Martyrs Day at Namugongo
Prior to June 3rd celebrations, Novenas and Mid-morning prayers were organized.
On 2nd June, 2010, the Uganda National Diocesan Priests’ Association [UNDIPA] held celebrations for the closure of the Year of the Priest at Namugongo Shrine. Over 250 priests representing their dioceses attended the function.
On 3rd June, 2010:About one million pilgrims from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), United States of America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and several other countries around the world, assembled at Namugongo Martyrs’ shrine in central Uganda for celebrations to honour the Uganda Martyrs who were killed between 1885 and 1887. The Uganda Martyrs were a group of Ugandan Christians- Roman Catholics and Anglicans, who were killed at the orders of Mwanga II, the then King of Buganda Kingdom
At the Catholic Shrine at Namugongo, more than 35 Bishops and over 400 priests participated in the day’s liturgy, which was animated by Moroto Diocese on behalf of the Ecclesiastical Province of Tororo. Bishop Henry Ssentongo the Bishop of Moroto led the liturgy and preached the homily. The celebrations were guided by the theme: “Look I am with you always, yes, to the end of time” (Mt.28:20).
Among the thousands of Pilgrims who attended the celebrations were the following celebrities: His Excellency President Yoweri K. Museveni and his wife Janet, Mrs. Maria Gabriel, the widow of late Tanzania president Julius Nyerere, The Prime Minister of Buganda and his wife, Cabinet Ministers from both Central and Mengo Governments, Members of Parliament, and Ambassadors.
HOMILY ON THE UGANDA MARTYRS DAY 3RD JUNE, 2010 AT NAMUGONGO
"I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS; YES TO THE END OF TIME" (MI. 28, 20)
Dear Pilgrims and all of you who are following this Eucharistic Celebration through the Media,
You are warmly welcomed to Namugongo by the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "I am with you always; yes, to the end of time", (Mt. 28, 20). To Him be glory, praise, honour, and thanksgiving.
We have come to Namugongo to praise and thank Almighty God for the Gift of our Christian Faith and the gift of the Uganda Martyrs, our Ancestors in faith: St. Charles Lwanga and his companions and the Martyrs of Paimol: Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa. Today, the Martyrs, through their witness and loyalty to Christ, speak to us very loudly and invite us to follow the path they took after embracing the Christian faith. Let us seriously reflect on their invitation and make this pilgrimage a turning point in our Christian living.
St. Stephen, the First Martyr, before he was stoned to death in Jerusalem, "filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand"(Acts, 7, 55). At that crucial moment of his life, Jesus manifested himself to him to encourage him and to assure him: "I am with you".
Down through the centuries, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, has stood by the side of those, who heroically witness to him by giving them extraordinary fortitude, courage and endurance.
"You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you "(Mt. 1 0, 18-20).
As Christ stood by St. Stephen and many other martyrs, so he did with the Uganda Martyrs. We are told that they went to their martyrdom singing. The Lord was indeed with them. On this Feast of our Martyrs, the Lord repeats his assurance to each one of us and to his Body, the Church: "I am always with you; yes to the end of time" (Mt. 28, 20).
He is with us through his Word, a priceless treasure, light and guide for the life of people. Let us cherish his Word, read, and reflect on it, and share it with others.
Christ is eminently with us in the Sacraments, through which he gives divine gifts to the people he has redeemed. We single the Eucharist out, the Sacrament of his Body and Blood, the Wonder of wonders, the Source and Summit of Christian life. It is the Banquet of which he invites us to partake in order to have eternal life.
Christ is also with us through other people, our neighbour. It does not matter who they are. In the story about the Last Judgement, among other things, it is said: "Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and cloth you; sick or in prison and go to see you? And the king will answer, I tell you solemnly in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me" (Mt. 25, 37-40). Christ identifies himself with one's neighbour especially the most needy. The Lord is also with us through the wonderful Work of Creation, the environment. The wonder and beauty of Creation is a continuous song of praise of God's power and presence among his people. "The heavens declare the glory of God, the vault of heaven proclaims his handiwork" (Ps. 19, 1).
Indeed Jesus Christ is called "IMMANUEL, a name which means = God is-with-us =" (Mt.1, 23-24). Let us express our profound gratitude to him for his love: to be with us in our life and in every situation, pleasant or unpleasant, like in sickness, poverty, rejection, persecution, unemployment, imprisonment, famine, disaster etc. The assurance of his presence gives us hope and confidence on our journey of faith. Though I pass through a valley of darkness, I fear no harm, beside me your rod and your staff are there, to hearten me (Ps. 23,4). "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt. 28, 18).
The Martyrs professed their faith in the one living and true God, the Creator of all things and the one who has supreme power in heaven and on earth. They were then baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
This is the faith of the Apostles, the faith of the pioneer missionaries who came to Uganda, and the faith, which we too are privileged to embrace. We profess one God, the only one and no other, the only one to be worshipped and to be absolutely obeyed. He must be put before anything else, even our own dictates. His authority is not of domination, but rather the power to give life to the full, to protect, to heal, to encourage, and to transform people and situations. We must trust in him.
The three Jewish young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, whose story we heard in the First Reading from the Book of Daniel, give to believers a wonderful example of conviction, courage and trust in God. They were ordered, under threat of death, to serve the gods of the king and to worship the golden statue he had erected. But they refused. They said: "then you must know, 0 king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected" (Dan.3, 18).
Our Martyrs too refused to abandon God, whom they had known and believed in. They preferred to die rather than deny their faith. We are here to celebrate their Christian heroism and to ask them to intercede for us so that we too may become champions in Christian living.
Coming to Namugongo, we must open up and tell the Martyrs our home affairs so that they intercede for us and our Country to be converted and to obtain healing. Some people are entangled in witchcraft and similar practices. Others live with fear because of traditional beliefs, superstition and satanic powers. Still others are unsettled because they feed on lies, false hopes and ambitions or they are seeking for miracles. But Christ tells us clearly and loudly: "I am with you always" (Mt. 28, 20), do not be afraid. "In the world you will have trouble, but be brave; I have conquered the world" (In. 16, 33). He also extends to us a comforting invitation: "Come to me, all you who labour and are over-burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt. 11, 28).
Your presence here, so many from near and far, is a proof that you appreciate and rejoice over the sacrifice of our Martyrs and you want to follow in their footsteps. When in future you meet with trials, difficulties and temptations, which want to lead you astray from your faith, remember this day and ask the Martyrs to intercede for you to remain brave and steadfast.
Shortly, we shall renew our faith by singing the Creed. We are going to do it standing on the ground which soaked up the Blood of the Martyrs. Let this give our profession of faith on this occasion, special significance and arouse in us the strong determination to live our faith. We make the words of 8t. Paul our own, that: "Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked" (Rom. 8, 35).
"Teach them to observe all the co mmands I gave you” (Mt. 28, 20]
As adopted daughters and sons of God, we have to recognise the affnming authority of our loving Father and to submit to it by keeping his commandments. "Teach them to observe all the commands I gave you" (Mt. 28, 20).
St.John has some strong words about this in his First Letter. He says: "We can be sure that we know God only by keeping his commandments. Anyone who says- I know him-, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, refusing to admit the truth" (1 In.2, 3-4).
Modem life, with its rhythms, challenges and developments should never make us forget the Giver of everything and his designs. To ignore the commandments of God is disastrous for humanity because they are meant to build, guide, promote and protect humanity itself. It is said that one, who ignores the Creator, will also, soon or later, ignore the creature. "Ah, how happy those of blameless life who walk in the Law of Yahweh! You yourself have made your precepts known, to be faithfully kept. Oh, may my behaviour be constant in keeping your statues" (Ps. 119, 1 + 4-5).
"Go therefore, make disciples of all the nations" [Mt. 28,19]
Like our Martyrs, we too are called to be witnesses to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples. Through Baptism, each Christian receives the mandate to go and make disciples. Each one, therefore, becomes an apostle in his or her own right according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Good News of Salvation is so great, so good, so exciting and urging, that we cannot just keep it in our little circle. The whole family must know it, the whole village must know, the clan must know, friends must also know. The children, according to their ability of understanding, must also be told about this new life. There are no frontiers or limits of time. "Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations"
Pilgrims listening to the homily
The story of the Uganda Martyrs is truly amazing and challenges us. In a short period after the arrival of the missionaries, the faith had already taken deep root in the hearts of those, who had embraced the Gospel Message, to the extent of sacrificing their own lives. The community of the followers of Jesus Christ was also steadly growing. They were convinced and committed Christians. They lived what they believed in and they themselves became evangelizers. When the situation became very critical,Charles Lwanga baptized some of his companions. Their sense of duty and loyalty to the King was genuine and high. They used to have religious instructions and prayers by night so that the teaching would not interfere with their duties.
Like our Martyrs, we too are called to witness to the Gospel. First and foremost, we do it by the daily struggle for holiness, trying to cultivate a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. "You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt.5, 48). Our true Christian living becomes witness.
The Christian family is called the Domestic Church, the first School of Christian living and a School for human enrichment. It is therefore a special place for living the Gospel and to witness to it, especially in the areas of love, unity, respect and service. Mother Church urges the faithful to build Christian families. Matia Mulumba, one of our martyrs, abandoned polygamy in order to establish a true Christian family. His example is very precious and should be welcomed by many families and by our young people. A Christian community without Christian families has no roots! Apostolic movements and associations are requested to intensify the family apostolate. There are many attacks in different forms on the family in general and on the Christian family in particular. We must all be alert and aware of such attacks. Christians and people of goodwill should come out to defend cherished family values. Once the family is shaken, society will also swing.
We are also called to witness to the Gospel through our work. Work is a participation in God's beautiful work of creation and necessary for human life and development. It is an important area, where the Gospel must penetrate. We put the Gospel values, like truth, justice, responsibility, honesty, and respect, in our work and also take them in our places of work. Your work-place should be your constituency of evangelization. The Gospel values help us to resist malpractices, like corruption, discrimination, dishonesty, laziness and others. They also help us to consider work as a service to the community and a contribution for the common good.
The Day of Lay Apostolate
The 3rd June in Uganda is also the Day of Lay Apostolate. Our dear Lay Faithful, Happy Feastday and many returns of the Day. We thank you for your precious role in the Church and for your service in society.
This occasion gives us the opportunity to, once again, reflect and consider the vocation and mission of lay people in the Church and society. They are expected to take the Gospel values to every sphere of life and in every place, where they find themselves.
Their task is well summarized in the words: "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven" (Mt.5, 13+14+16).
As you probably know, all our Martyrs were lay people and most of them quite young. We invite our Youth to take them as their special Patrons and Models. They will inspire you, dear young people, during this important period of your growth to lay down a solid foundation for the future. Their life will speak to you about responsibility, honesty, purity, service, appreciation of law and order, and about becoming committed and courageous Christians and citizens. They will also inspire you to become teachers and evangelizers to one another and to always remember what the Lord says: "What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life?" (Mt. 16, 26).
The Uganda Martyrs, our Ancestors In Faith and Intercessors:
We salute our Heroes of Faith, the Martyrs of Namugongo and Paimol, and ask for their intercession. The celebration of their Feast day gives us a 'Package' to carry with us at home, namely their LEGACY.
It is not enough to remember our glorious Martyrs. It is not enough to rejoice because Uganda is called the Land of the Martyrs. It is not enough to name churches and institutions after the Martyrs, nor is it enough to make big pilgrimages to Namugongo and Paimol.
Our true honouring of the Martyrs should be embracing their Legacy, to follow in their footsteps. We should strive, among other things, to leave the past: to get out of darkness and to walk in the wonderful light of God (1 Pt. 2, 9). Then we should be determined, with the grace of God, to follow Christ up to the end and be able to say like St. Paul; "I have fought the good fight to the end; 1 have run the race to the finish; 1 have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4, 7).
“I am with you always, yes, to the end of time” [Mt. 28.20]
Namugongo, 3rd June,2010
†Henry A. Ssentongo Bishop of Moroto
NOVENA TO THE UGANDA MARTYRS PROCEEDING THE 3RD JUNE, 2010
Animat ing and Leading Diocese: Moroto Diocese representing Tororo Ecclesiastical Province.
Theme: “Look I am with you always, yes, to the end of time” (Mt.28:20).
Sub–Theme: Called to recognize and appreciate Christ’s presence and availability to all.
TOPICS FOR REFLECTION
The celebration of the Lord's Day (Sunday) at Kiyinda - Mityana
The Catholic Community at Kiyinda-Mityana, which used to gather at Matia Mulumba Kalemba’s home, valued highly Christ’s presence and availability. First all the community strongly believed in Christ’s promise “For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them “(Mt. 18:20).Secondly it acknowledged Christ to be their only Teacher (Cfr. Mt. 23:11). For they recognized and appreciated Christ’s presence and availability in the Priest at Nalukolongo Mission and in the leader, Matia Mulumba Kalemba.
The community at Kiyinda-Mityana had the following leaders: Matia Mulumba Kalemba, Luke Baanabakintu, and Noa Mawaggali. Matia Mulumba Kalemba used to send Luke Baanabakintu to Nalukolongo Mission.
His mission was to listen attentively and learn by heart the sermon delivered by the Priest on the Lord’s Day (Sunday). Then Luka Baanabakintu would go back to Kiyinda-Mityana and relate the whole sermon to Matia Mulumba Kalemba.
While Luka Baanabakintu had a wonderful memory, Matia Mulumba Kalemba was a good orator. He would polish the sermon in an interesting language and he would finally deliver it to the attentive community in the next Sunday celebrations.
Thus, the Sunday celebrations at Kiyinda-Mityana were God’s moments of grace for the Catholic Community to encounter Jesus Christ, learn the Catholic Doctrines and deepen their faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, the Catholic Community gathering in Matia Mulumba Kalemba’s home recognized and appreciated Christ’s presence and availability in the following:
a) In the community gathered in Christ’s name.
b) In the Priest at Nalukolongo.
c) In Matia Mulumba Kalemba their leader and catechist. (Cfr. Liturgical Constitution (1963, 7). The challenge we have today is how much do we recognize and appreciate Christ’s presence and availability on the Lord’s Day in the Community gathered around him by the Father (Cfr.Jn.11:52) in the Liturgy of the Word and in the Liturgy of the Eucharist? Do we listen attentively and with reverence to Jesus Christ who is speaking to us?
Do the ministers of the word proclaim the word of God or read it?
Do the presiders over the Holy Mass proclaim or recite in a hurry the Eucharistic Prayer.
Family Prayers.
It is observed today that a good number of Catholic families have lost the value of praying together in the family. It seems that the interests in Radio and TV programmes among family members is one of the causes. Some families which still say prayers, recite them in a hurry when their hearts are far from the Lord!
The families of the Uganda Martyrs are challenging us. For example, St. Andrea Kaggwa and his wife Nakazibwe together with their children and other family members at Kigoowa used to say morning and evening prayers. They used to recognize and appreciate Christ’s presence and availability who was among them (Cfr. Mt.18:20).
Let us revive the good custom to pray together in the families and recognize and appreciate Christ’s presence and availability in our families.
The order of celebrating the Novena
The order of the celebrations will be as follows:-
Rite for welcoming the Pilgrims. The proclamation of the white and red martyrdom outside the Church.
Procession to the Church or to the place for the Holy Mass.
The Holy Mass. And at the end of the Holy Mass the Litany of the Uganda Martyrs.
Places for the Novena.
All the Catholic dioceses in Uganda are kindly asked to celebrate the novenas in the selected places of their own choice.
The Novenas at Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine will be organized as follows.
Wednesday, 26th May, 2010 - St. Denis Ssebuggwawo and St. Andrea Kaggwa, Kkonge Sub-Parish in Kansanga Parish, with the Catechists.
Thursday 27th May, 2010 - At St. Ponsiano Ngondwe, Kyamula Sub-Parish in Nsambya Parish with Police, Prison and Army Forces.
Friday 28th May, 2010 - At St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe and St. Atthanasius Bazzekuketta with civil servants and Catholics in financial sector.
Saturday 29th May, 2010 - At St. Yoanna Maria Muzeyi in Mengo-Kisenyi Parish with the medical personnel.
Sunday 30th May, 2010 - St. Matia Mulumba Kalemba in Old Kampala Parish with civic and political leaders.
Monday 31st May, 2010 - St. Gonzaga Gonza with the Youth at Lubaawo
Tuesday 1st June, 2010 - St. Kizito with the Children.(Prayers for the beatification of the Late Julius Nyerere.
Wednesday 2nd June, 2010- Catholic Families.
Thursay 3rd June,2010 - Holy Mass and celebration of the Uganda Martyrs' Day at Namugongo Martyrs' Shrine in the Archdiocese of Kampala
The story of the Uganda Martyrs is truly amazing and challenges us. In a short period after the arrival of the missionaries, the faith had already taken deep root in the hearts of those, who had embraced the Gospel Message, to the extent of sacrificing their own lives. The community of the followers of Jesus Christ was also steadly growing. They were convinced and committed Christians. They lived what they believed in and they themselves became evangelizers. When the situation became very critical,Charles Lwanga baptized some of his companions. Their sense of duty and loyalty to the King was genuine and high. They used to have religious instructions and prayers by night so that the teaching would not interfere with their duties. 
