|
|
Uganda: VP Eyes Global Drive to Rebuild Namugongo
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
New Vision (Kampala)
4 June 2008
Posted to the web 5 June 2008
Cyprian Musoke
Kampala
VICE-PRESIDENT Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has called for a worldwide campaign to raise funds to renovate Namugongo Catholic shrine, the home of Africa's largest group of martyrs.
"The 3rd of June is an important day for Uganda and the rest of the world because we remember soldiers of Christ for their strong faith in the Church," he said.
"I'm willing to start a global fundraising drive to raise money to renovate and rehabilitate the shrine to reflect its glory and place in history."
Bukenya was on Sunday hosting over 70 Nigerian knights of the St. Mulumba Patronage, who had come for a pilgrimage to the shrine.
"Everywhere around the world, there are memories of our saints and their commitment to their faith. We need to do more for the home of these saints and keep their memories alive," he added.
In 1920, Pope Benedict XV declared as "blessed" 22 Catholic martyrs.
They were canonised (made saints) by Pope Paul VI on October 18, 1964 during the Vatican II conference.
In 1992, the Ugandan Government set aside June 3 as a public holiday in honour of the martyrs, who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga from 1885-1887.
The supreme knight and head of the Nigerian delegation, Dr. Fidelis Ezemenari, said it was unfortunate that Africans sought to go to Rome and Israel to visit holy sites yet forgot to come to Uganda, where Africa's saints shed blood.
He pledged to support Bukenya's efforts to raise awareness and funds to renovate the shrine.
Two months ago, the vice-president hosted a luncheon and raised sh200m for hosting this year's Martyrs Day and renovating the Basilica.
Meanwhile, in an earlier meeting with a team of students from Spring Arbor University in Michigan, USA, Bukenya observed that young people had the minds and potential to link people and continents for a more united world.
|
"For such young people to engage in cultural exchanges to see how other people live and work, is an inspiration. They can help alter attitudes towards certain issues and promote change."
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
