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Tororo Archdiocese in Shs330m shortfall for Martyrs Day festivity
Briefed. Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo (left) addresses journalists at the Uganda Catholic secretariat in Nsambya yesterday. Right is Mr Robert Kamiza, the chairman of Kampala chapter for Namugongo celebrations. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- Uganda Catholic Secretariat has received notifications from Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. We are expecting confirmations from international pilgrims in their thousands in May, as we draw closer to the day,” read the statement in part.
KAMPALA. Tororo Archdiocese has said it has a deficit of Shs330m meant to organise this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations.
Tororo Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo, who is the main organiser of this year’s event, which is five weeks away, said they are struggling to raise the budgeted Shs720m because “most people within the [Tororo] Archdiocese have meagre incomes, so the collections are slow.”
“It is a very short time within which we have to work to get the money, but we are still hopeful,” he said.
Last year, the Uganda Episcopal Conference mandated the Archdiocese of Tororo to organise this year’s Martyr’s Day celebrations under the theme ‘Let us walk in the light of God as a family’.
According to Archbishop Obbo, they have only managed to collect Shs390 million in a space of about one year since the launch of the organising committee. During a press conference in September last year, he said the money would be raised by the Catholic parishes in Uganda.
The secretary general of the Uganda Episcopal conference and chairperson of the organising committee of the event, Msgr John Kauta, yesterday said they have devised other ways that will help to raise the remaining funds in a short time.
“We have recorded a caller tune which is being used on two major telecommunication companies (MTN and Airtel) and we are getting Shs500 from the Shs700 made off from each person that uses the tune. We are also organising fundraising dinners, second collections in all [Catholic] churches. We hope this can make us cross the bridge in the little time we are left with,” he said.
A press release read by Archbishop Obbo indicated that about 4 million people have so far registered for the June 3 celebrations from all over the world and the money collected will be used to hire tents, chairs, accommodation for the visiting priests, extra transport and hiring security.
“We are expecting millions of pilgrims from within and all over the world. The Archdiocese of Tororo has already registered about 4, 000 foot pilgrims and more are still registering.
Uganda Catholic Secretariat has received notifications from Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. We are expecting confirmations from international pilgrims in their thousands in May, as we draw closer to the day,” read the statement in part.
He, however, warned the public against showing up at the venue with dubious intentions, which are meant to tarnish the image of the Catholic faith.
“Some people come to eat pork, drink bear, rape women and do all sorts of things, we hope this will not be the case this time round. Let us be focused on prayer as this day means a lot to us as a country and the Catholic faith in Uganda,” he said.
Budget. Out of Shs720m, Shs390 million has been collected so far.
Pilgrims. About 4 million people have so far registered for the June 3 celebrations from all over the world.
About the day. Every June 3, the faithful, especially Catholics and Anglicans, take part in a pilgrimage to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo from different corners of the world in commemoration of the Martyrs, who were executed under the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda in 1880. Forty-five young men were executed, 22 were Catholics and 23 Anglican.
