Ugandan police recently released guidelines to follow in preparation for the historic Martyrs’ Day celebration on 3rd June.
With just days to the historic Martyrs’ Day celebrations on 3rd June, the Uganda police have issued a set of guidelines to be followed.
In a statement dated 31st May 2021, Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said the rules have been set following the rise in COVID-19 infections.
Among others, Enanga said the celebrations will be held scientifically with only 200 people allowed to attend physically.
“As you are aware, the Uganda Martyrs Day Celebrations will fall on the 03/06/2021,” Enanga said.
“However, due to the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebrations will be conducted in a scientific manner will only have 200 invitees respectively.”
The Martyrs Day in recent years has attracted many people from all angles of the world. In Uganda, locals usually trek from distant districts including those from the eastern and western parts of the country just to make it to the holy pilgrimage.
The police spokesperson, however, urged all trekkers to suspend any similar action because they won’t be allowed entry into the Namugongo venue.
He advised the staunch Catholics to follow the event on TV stations saying that they will broadcast every bit of the duration.
Going further, Enanga urged those who will be invited for the physical ceremony to adhere to the set guidelines to deter any further spread of the virus.
“Therefore, we would like to remind the thousands of pilgrims and other faith based tourists from upcountry, as well as from the immediate neighbouring countries of the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Burundi, not to trek the long distance, but to instead follow the religious celebrations on TV, Radio and other digital platforms.”
“To the few invitees, we congratulate them and further encourage them to cooperate with the requests of our security teams in and around the venues, especially when getting through the check and search point,” Enanga urged adding that they have deployed heavily to ensure there are no defiers.
“Even if the celebrations are low key, and with no specific threats directed towards the scientific religious festivity, the Joint Security Teams have secured the event with a mix of overt, covert and surveillance teams, deployed in and around the venue.”
Meanwhile, as the day first approaches, many church leaders have given their thoughts about the big day. Among them, is Fr. Vincent Lubega the Namugongo Catholic Parish priest.
In his speech on Monday, he said the church will miss the services of two distinguished men in Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga the fallen Archbishop of Kampala and the Late Dr Livingston Mpalanyi-Nkoyooyo.
“Two distinguished men of God left a permanent mark on Uganda Martyrs shrines and although they may be gone, their works still stand tall,” Fr. Lubega noted.
“Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga the fallen Archbishop of Kampala and the Late Dr. Livingston Mpalanyi-Nkoyooyo are the two characters in the Namugongo Martyrs development agenda,” he added.
