Archbishop Sabino calls for dialogue to solve political rifts
At least a million Christians celebrated the Uganda Martyrs’ Day at Namugongo shrine yesterday with the lead celebrant calling for “serious dialogue to address political and social problems in the country”.
Clad in the ceremonial catholic robes, Archbishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua Diocese, told pilgrims that this will be the only way to amicably solve the country’s problems instead of “the walk-to-work campaign and teargas”.
“Uganda is known for her beauty and hospitality but it is also known for political turbulence and tribalism. We should address this through dialogue,” he said to a crowd which included the newly-appointed Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi who represented the President, and pilgrims who had trekked from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan, DR Congo, among other countries.
Every June 3, Christian pilgrims from within and without gather at Namugongo Christian shrines to remember and celebrate the lives of the 45 Christians - both Catholics and Anglicans - who were martyred by King Mwanga between 1885 and 1887.
In yesterday’s cultural milieu the Bible was presented to the altar in a granary to symbolise that the Gospel of God is food.
There were also 24 catechists each with palm leaves, symbolising victory and also representing the martyrs. Initially remembered and commemorated only by the Catholics, the celebrations today are also embraced by the Anglicans.
But according to Bishop Odoki, also 72 Muslims were martyred together with the Christians and President Amin built the Mosque near the Anglican shrine in honour of those Muslim martyrs.
“These martyrs, although of various faiths and cultural backgrounds, were believers in God. This gift of faith is only reached in freedom as a gift of God’s love,” he said, adding that the situation in Uganda today calls for a replica of the unity that was exhibited by the martyrs whom he said sat together as royal servants of the Kabaka, irrespective of their backgrounds, and embraced faith.
In Arua District, the lead celebrant, Fr Ceasar Dralega, called on Ugandans to resist injustices of human rights abuses and in the judiciary in the country.
That although Ugandans have witnessed widespread abuses of their rights, especially the ruthlessness with which the military quashed protests against rising commodity and fuel prices, he called on Christians to emulate the martyrs who chose to suffer and die when they were persecuted and oppressed by Kabaka.
He advised that even in hard times, Christians should be joyful because the Martyrs chose to have a better life by suffering and dying for their faith and truth.
“We should have a critical mind-set to reject what is wrong in society. You should have courage to resist injustice in judicial system and violation in the systems,” he said.
Clad in the ceremonial catholic robes, Archbishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua Diocese, told pilgrims that this will be the only way to amicably solve the country’s problems instead of “the walk-to-work campaign and teargas”.
“Uganda is known for her beauty and hospitality but it is also known for political turbulence and tribalism. We should address this through dialogue,” he said to a crowd which included the newly-appointed Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi who represented the President, and pilgrims who had trekked from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan, DR Congo, among other countries.
Every June 3, Christian pilgrims from within and without gather at Namugongo Christian shrines to remember and celebrate the lives of the 45 Christians - both Catholics and Anglicans - who were martyred by King Mwanga between 1885 and 1887.
In yesterday’s cultural milieu the Bible was presented to the altar in a granary to symbolise that the Gospel of God is food.
There were also 24 catechists each with palm leaves, symbolising victory and also representing the martyrs. Initially remembered and commemorated only by the Catholics, the celebrations today are also embraced by the Anglicans.
But according to Bishop Odoki, also 72 Muslims were martyred together with the Christians and President Amin built the Mosque near the Anglican shrine in honour of those Muslim martyrs.
“These martyrs, although of various faiths and cultural backgrounds, were believers in God. This gift of faith is only reached in freedom as a gift of God’s love,” he said, adding that the situation in Uganda today calls for a replica of the unity that was exhibited by the martyrs whom he said sat together as royal servants of the Kabaka, irrespective of their backgrounds, and embraced faith.
In Arua District, the lead celebrant, Fr Ceasar Dralega, called on Ugandans to resist injustices of human rights abuses and in the judiciary in the country.
That although Ugandans have witnessed widespread abuses of their rights, especially the ruthlessness with which the military quashed protests against rising commodity and fuel prices, he called on Christians to emulate the martyrs who chose to suffer and die when they were persecuted and oppressed by Kabaka.
He advised that even in hard times, Christians should be joyful because the Martyrs chose to have a better life by suffering and dying for their faith and truth.
“We should have a critical mind-set to reject what is wrong in society. You should have courage to resist injustice in judicial system and violation in the systems,” he said.
posted by mwesigye herbert at 5:13 AM
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