The Catholic Church in Northern Uganda has maintained that Holy Communion will continue to be administered to worshippers on hand despite the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country, with strict adherence to health guidelines during this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations. The assurance comes as Uganda marks Martyrs Day on Wednesday amid heightened vigilance following the resurgence of Ebola cases.
The government recently suspended the national Martyrs Day celebrations held annually on June 3rd at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, which were scheduled to be animated by the Catholic Diocese of Kasese. In a statement issued last week, the Uganda Episcopal Conference directed that this year’s celebrations be held at regional, diocesan and parish levels to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
Rev. Fr. Justine Eric Uma, the Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Parish in Gulu city said Tuesday they have put in place measures to ensure that worshippers commemorate the feast safely while observing all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Fr. Uma said two Masses will be held at the parish on Wednesday, with the first service conducted in the Acholi language at 7:00 a.m. and a second English Mass at 9:00 a.m.
“We shall have two Masses in the main church, one at seven in the morning in Acholi and another at nine in English. We shall follow the protocols as guided for the celebration,” Fr. Uma told Uganda Radio Network in an interview. He explained that the parish will enforce measures aimed at preventing possible transmission of the Ebola virus, including avoiding physical greetings and preventing overcrowding in the church.
On the administration of Holy Communion, Fr. Uma said the church will continue offering the sacrament both on the hand and on the tongue, depending on the preference of the communicants, while ensuring caution is exercised. “We use both methods. Those who want to receive in their hands, we give them. Those who want to receive in their mouth, we also give them, but one has to be careful,” he said.
Monsignor Agwee, the Vicar General at Gulu Archdiocese said Tuesday that the Archdiocese has directed all the 35 parishes to follow the health guidelines, which require the Eucharist to be received in the hand.
Monsignor Agwee said while the faithful have a deep spiritual attachment to the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, the Church supports measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola and protecting communities from infection. He urged Christians to remain vigilant and cooperate with church leaders and health authorities during the celebrations, noting that safeguarding lives remains a collective responsibility.
The Uganda Martyrs Day commemorations honor the 45 Christian converts who were executed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II for refusing to renounce their faith. The annual celebration attracts millions of pilgrims from Uganda and across the world, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in Africa-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
