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Uganda: Martyrs' Day; Police Security is Just Enough
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The Monitor (Kampala)
14 May 2008
Posted to the web 14 May 2008
Michael P. Mukuru
Kampala
Christ's peace and love be with you all as you shine with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Once again the big day is around the corner. Come 3rd June, all roads will lead to the Martyrs' Shrine Namugongo. Yes, we all look towards the annual enriching and cleansing pilgrim. Am happy some of our brothers and sisters have already began their long journey to Namugongo.
However, the celebrations have lost meaning and purpose these days because the pilgrims do not enjoy adequate freedoms including movement at the shrine.
We specifically celebrate the solemnity of our own brothers that were martyred because of their faith; their blood became the seed of Christianity in Uganda. We are therefore not celebrating war heroes or a liberation days and as such, our eyes shouldn't be "fed" on military officers stationed at every corner at Namugongo and the shrine itself.
In the early 1990s, we always had organised Martyrs' Day celebrations courtesy of policemen, xaverians, scouts and the Blue army and the Red Cross.
However in 1998, following terrorists hurling of bombs in parts of the country, military officers and men were deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims at Namugongo.
During the 1998 Martyrs' Day celebrations, I was among the xaverians on guard; all was a marvel, though some chaos erupted.
A certain man dropped a bic pen in a student's pocket and suspecting it to be a bomb, some people started quaking while others scampered for their dear lives but everything was immediately brought under control.
Now to stop the grasshopper from flying, our dear President has on several occasions assured us that Uganda is safe - and thank God, major rebellions seem to have been subsided.
Therefore, our President does not need a full battalion, or a whole brigade when he goes to make a pilgrimage to Namugongo. Often, the President's security inconveniences other pilgrims and sometimes stops them from accessing certain vital areas.
In some cases, the security even displaces pilgrims or even scouts from their sites. Our dear Christians always wish to catch a glimpse of the Episcopate and the lake but this is never possible because of the heavy deployment of security.
I agree that "nothing should be taken for granted on matters of security". However, if you revisit Kabaka Ronald Mutebi's wedding ceremony (where I was privileged to be part of the Red Ribbon Aides consisting of the police, scouts and xaverians), despite the absence of military men, the occasion befitted the saying Ssikilabanga nakiilaba ku mbaaga ya Mutebi.
I hope the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, will ably handle Martyrs' Day security irrespective of which President comes for the pilgrimage. And may whoever will be on duty also show respect to our elderly parents who flock the shrine to ask for blessings.
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I love you all and wish you joyful and happy Martyrs' Day 2008 in advance. May the Almighty bless everyone.
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