Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and now, after two years of COVID-19 break in the yearly Martyr’s Day celebration event, the region of the Church of Uganda has presented upon Greater Ankole Dioceses the privilege to host and organise this year of Martyr Day.
Greater Ankole Dioceses contains Ankole, WestAnkole, North Ankole, South Ankole and North West Ankole Dioceses.
This year the theme of the Martyr Day celebration 2022 is “Hope beyond affection”.
According to the statement of Rt. Rev.Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, Bishop Ankole Diocese/Cluster Leader of the Greater Ankole Dioceses, that just like Jeremiah got a disclosure of hope after the collapse occurred in the temple and the holy city Jerusalem, God is showing Ugandans hope after Covid-19.
The sacred week events of Christ’s suffering, pain, mockery, and death will finally top in the resurrection on Easter Sunday, the hope for all Christians. Likewise, the story of Uganda Martyrs is a story of hope beyond affliction,” he said.
Mwesigwa emphasized some of the activities, including a mega thanksgiving service organised on Friday, April 29 2022, at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero Kampala.
He further noted that Al Banyankole, irrespective of religion, are invited in order to give thanks to God for Ankole Karro Karungi’ as a region; we are also planning to raise money in a bid to support the activities of Martyrs Day with a budget of almost Shs 600 million.
He appealed to companies, business entities, institutions, and individuals to respond by offering financial assistance necessary to meet critical objectives of the budget.
According to Mwesigwa, the day’s preacher will be Emeritus Bishop Samson Mwaluda, a renowned international evangelist grounded in the East African Revival Fellowship, popularly called Revival Brethren.
As per our expectations, nearly two hundred pilgrims will walk from the Ankole region, including senior citizens who are seventy years and above. He added that some of these have been walking to Namugongo for more than four years.