Kampala — Thousands of Christians are expected at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, for overnight prayers to mark the beginning of the New Year, 2004.

The prayers, dubbed The Passover Festival, are organised by a host of churches for born-again Christians.

This is the second time the event is being held.

Last year's festival attracted more than 70,000 Christians to the same venue. Namboole is a 40,000-capacity stadium.

According to Pastor Joseph Sserwadda of Victory Church, who is one of the organisers, the festival is designed to bring people nearer to God in the New Year.

"We want to prepare the people such that when they enter the New Year, they have something to hope for and live for," he said.

"We shall also ask [God] to put an end to the ebimansulo and all the sexual sinning that is slowly encroaching on the nation," the pastor said.