By KT Reporter
With just weeks to go before Uganda Martyrs Day, questions continue to swirl around the financial details of this year’s celebrations, spearheaded by Lugazi Diocese. While preparations are visibly underway, diocesan officials have remained reluctant to disclose the full budget, raising eyebrows among observers accustomed to transparency in previous editions of the national religious event.
During a press briefing at the diocesan headquarters in Lugazi, the Vicar General, Msgr. Richard Kayondo, confirmed that the cost of organizing the June 3rd celebrations runs into the billions of shillings. However, he stopped short of providing a specific figure, only noting that a significant percentage of the required funding had already been secured.
“The planning committee is working hard, and we’re confident the event will run smoothly. We invite the public and well-wishers to continue supporting us financially,” Msgr. Kayondo said, speaking on behalf of Bishop Christopher Kakooza. Unlike in previous years when leading dioceses openly declared their budgets, Lugazi has adopted a more guarded approach.
However, Uganda Radio Network has learned that parishes within the diocese were discreetly assigned specific contribution targets, and additional financial mobilization efforts are reportedly ongoing behind the scenes. Responding earlier to questions about the financial roadmap, Bishop Kakooza reassured the faithful, stating that the key elements necessary for a successful celebration were already in place and that “there is no need for public anxiety.”
Despite the budget silence, the diocese has earned praise for prioritizing spiritual formation, particularly among the youth. Lugazi Diocese has scheduled a special children’s pilgrimage to Namugongo on Friday, May 30, 2025, ahead of the main celebration. The event is expected to draw school-going children from across the country for a day of prayer, learning, and reflection.
“This early pilgrimage will give young people the time and spiritual space to engage with the legacy of the Uganda Martyrs before returning to school,” Msgr. Kayondo noted. The day will feature a choir of 500 members, carefully selected from the diocese’s 34 parishes, mirroring the musical setup planned for the June 3 Mass. Buikwe Deputy Resident District Commissioner in Charge of Lugazi Municipality, Juma Kigongo, assured the public of heightened national-level coordination to ensure the safety of all pilgrims, especially the children expected at the early event.
Meanwhile, spiritual preparations are in full swing under the theme: “Oh Lord, Let Me See Again; I, Your Pilgrim of Hope,” inspired by the Jubilee Year theme announced by the late Pope Francis. The theme has guided a year-long campaign involving daily prayer, Eucharistic congresses, and crusades across the diocese. A central organizing committee led by Fr. Godfrey Mboowa, Dr. Augustine Kato, and Mrs. Prossy Konde has been steering the preparations with what insiders describe as “precision and prayer.”
“We are now focusing on spiritual renewal and logistics. We want this to be not just an event, but a true pilgrimage of faith,” said Fr. Mboowa. Priests have also been invited to participate in a Novena from May 25 to June 2, during which confessions will be available to pilgrims. In keeping with tradition, Lugazi Diocese will make its symbolic foot pilgrimage to Namugongo on June 1, arriving at 5:00 PM, followed by a Mass at 7:00 PM.
All pilgrims, especially those attending both the children’s event and the main celebration, are urged to register at their respective parishes to aid security and logistical planning. Beyond its administrative role, Lugazi Diocese holds a unique place in Uganda’s martyrdom story. It is home to two Uganda Martyrs—Ponsiano Ngondwe and Mukasa Kiriwawanvu—both born in Bulimo, Mukono. Plans are underway to upgrade their birthplaces into pilgrimage-standard shrine churches, further anchoring Lugazi’s spiritual contribution to the nation. As Uganda looks forward to the annual commemoration of its Christian heroes, Lugazi Diocese is walking a delicate line—balancing financial opacity with visible, vibrant spiritual readiness-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
