Uganda celebrates Martyr’s Day on 03 June and the event attracts pilgrims countrywide and outside Uganda to Namugongo Shrines where the martyrs were executed for their faith and refusal to denounce it by Kabaka Mwanga.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at St. Genevieve Parish in Panorama City, Los Angeles in the United State of America, , Tayebwa said that it is time for Ugandans in America to experience the Martyrs day events in Namugongo.
“Now we need pilgrims to come from here and go to Uganda and we shall recognise them. We have to translate this into something different now,’ Tayebwa said.
He urged Ugandans in the US to preach to Americans about the significance of the Uganda Martyrs and the existence of both Catholic, Anglican as well as Muslim shrines.
“The Uganda Martyrs have always come up in debates for the value their deaths add to the faiths,” said Tayebwa.
Bishop Adama blessing the mural with the portraits of the Uganda Martyrs
He commended the Ugandan Catholic Community in the US for their commitment to Christ by establishing a shrine where many believers will converge to pray to the Uganda Martyrs.
“This is going to improve the tourism of our country but also it is a good way for you people to organise yourselves because we have a rallying point of the Uganda Martyrs,” Tayebwa said.
Gulu Diocese Archbishop, John Baptist Odama called on believers in the US to follow the teachings of Christ to strengthen their faith.
“They were not afraid to challenge those who were going the wrong way and were leading humankind in the wrong direction. They challenged the king and the king got angry because he was challenged by his subjects. He decided to prosecute and killed them. Did they get afraid, no,” Odama said.
Odama encouraged Christians to emulate the values of St. Kizito whom he said chose God’s gifts, instead of earthly inheritance.
“You and I have to face the realities of today for example violence, immorality, corruption, robbery, land grabbing and human trafficking. How do we who profess Jesus Christ deal with these? We should provide a better world which is befitting for humans,” Odama said.
The Deputy Head of Mission at Uganda’s Embassy in Washington, Mary Santa Laker commended the Catholic Community in Los Angeles for the achievement of inaugurating the Uganda Martyrs Shrine saying that it will bind those who live in the US.
“This is a very special and historic day for us as Uganda. This shrine is the first-ever Uganda Martyrs Shrine to be built outside Uganda making it truly special. The shrine will not only be a place for pilgrimage and renewal of our Catholic Christian faith, but also a place that brings and binds Uganda’s unique history together to this part of the world,” she said.
The shrine was constructed by the Uganda Catholic Community living in California State and will attract pilgrims from all over North America to celebrate the Uganda Martyrs Day.