By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
Hundreds of Catholic believers on Saturday 17 February 2024, flocked the historical Kigungu landing site where the first missionaries landed after trekking a long journey on Lake Victoria all the way from Tanzania with the motive of spreading Catholic religion in Uganda.
The first missionaries commonly known as White Fathers who include Bro. Amans Delmas and Pere Simeon Lourdel (Mapeera) landed in Uganda at Kigungu landing site on February 17,1879 and since that time, pilgrims flock this historical fishing site to celebrate them for bringing God’s message among Catholic believers.
It’s believed that upon landing at Kigungu landing site, they were welcomed by Buganda Kingdom King then Kabaka Edward Muteesa 1, who gave them land to construct churches including land housing Rubaga cathedral.
While delivering his sermon to the pilgrims at Kigungu landing site, the Archbishop, His Grace Paul Semogerere, challenged all believers to utilize this Lent period to repent all the sins they have committed in life and also behave in a Godly manner.
“Utilize the Lent period to repent all your sins and ensure even after this fasting period, you behave in a Godly manner,” he said.
The Archbishop told the pilgrims to appreciate the first missionaries who came to Uganda because they did a commendable job to bring God’s message to us and this explains why some were buried here in Uganda.
“Both Bro.Amans and Lourdel Mapeera were determined to disseminate the word of God despite encountering a number of challenges on their way including tropical diseases like malaria and sleeping sickness among others,” he said.
He thanked the martyrs who died in their faith saying 17th February reminds us the first missionaries in Uganda who changed us from being traditional believers to believers of the Almighty God.
He took an exception to corruption saying, these days’ people lie and engage in corruption acts to be able to change their lives economically. He said the vice has been spread into schools to the extent that even a child vying for prefectship has to bribe fellow students with sweets to vote him or her.
“I hear schools that pay media to advertise their schools for having excelled in national exams but such schools don’t mention failures yet they have them. Therefore, let’s pray to God to help us address the problem of corruption which has escalated moral decay in our country, “Archbishop made the appeal.
Bishop Anthony Ziiwa, asked government to gazette the church compound at Kigungu landing site as a tourism site and a martyrs shrine and also revealed that this year’s Martyrs day will be organized by Nebbi diocese to mark 60 years of Uganda Martyrs.
Rev. Fr. Pele Nyombi, said these days things seem to have turned upside down and appealed to religious leaders to revive the dwindling Uganda Martyrs Association.
In related news, Archbishop His Grace Paul Semogerere, launched a fundraising drive to renovate Kigungu Catholic church that was built on the shores of Lake Victoria. His Grace contributed Shs1m while Entebbe Division ‘A’ mayor contributed Shs.500,000 cash and pledged to contribute an additional of Shs.2m as Entebbe Division A. In total Shs.1.7 million was contributed in cash while Shs. 17.9million in pledges, however, the church requires Shs340 million to be face-lifted.
Meanwhile, this year’s celebrations was organized by Entebbe Catholic parish headed by Rev.Fr. Gerald Mpanju and next year’s celebrations will be organized by Kibiri Catholic parish.
