Press Release: The Uganda Martyrs Walk
THEME “WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MARTYRS”
The Uganda Tourism Board together with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities, the Diocese of Kiyinda – Mityana, the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Uganda, invite the general public to participate in this year’s Uganda Martyrs’ Walk scheduled to take place on Sunday May 22nd, 2016 in preparations for the celebrations of this year’s Uganda Martyrs’ Day.
Faith- based tourism in Uganda is growing every year. Annually on 3rd June, hundreds of thousands of faithful pilgrims visit Namugongo to celebrate the lives of the Uganda Martyrs. In 2015, at least three million people are estimated to have attended the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations. The overall theme of the Uganda Martyrs Day 2016 is The Truth Shall Set You Free. This is after 130 years since youth gave up their lives for their faith.
In fulfillment of the key strategic objective of the Tourism Act 2008, UTB runs domestic tourism promotion campaigns to popularize attractions and events in Uganda. This year UTB is working with the Catholic Church Secretariat and other stakeholders to organise the Martyrs Walk. The theme of the walk is Walking in the Footsteps of the Martyrs.
The event theme is different from the overall theme of the Martyrs Day. The Martyrs Walk starts at Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine at 8:00am and ends at St. Matia Mulumba in Old Kampala. After the walk, Bishop Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese will lead prayers at 3:00pm at the St. Matia Mulumba Church.
THE MARTYRS WALK
To inaugurate this year’s celebrations, the Uganda Martyrs’ Walk has been organized to run on Sunday 22nd May 2016. It will be flagged off from Munyonyo Catholic Shrine at 8:00am and then go through the following sites:
Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine, Munyonyo
Denis Ssebugwawo, Munyonyo
Ponsiano Ngodwe, Salama Road
Jean Marie Mzee, Kisenyi, Kampala
Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, Nakivubo, Kampala
Athathius Bazzekuketta, Nakivubo, Kampala
Matia Mulumba, Old Kampala
The objectives of the campaign are to:
Promote faith based tourism as a unique product in Uganda.
Increase awareness of the ‘Uganda Martyrs Day as the signature event for Uganda.
Increase the geographical spread by creating awareness of Uganda’s diverse product offerings to the domestic market and the region.
St. Matia Mulumba Parish was selected as the last site for this year’s walk because the church is named after Mathias Mulumba one of the Uganda Martyrs who hailed from Kiyinda – Mityana. Mityana Diocese is leading this year’s Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations.
In attendance for the walk will be:
Bishop Anthony Zziwa, the Bishop of Kiyinda – Mityana Diocese and Vice chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference.
Bishop Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo – former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda
John B. Kauta – the General secretary of the Episcopal Conference
Joseph Muwonge – the spokesperson of the Uganda Martyrs Episcopal Conference
Lazarus Kiggundu – the Chairman organizing committee for the Uganda Martyrs celebrations 2016
Phillip Odii – Head of Publicity Uganda Episcopal Conference
And many more clergies from both the Catholic Church and the Church of Uganda.
Uganda Tourism Board is working with key stakeholders to ensure the success of the Uganda Martyrs Walk this Sunday on 22 May, and later the Uganda Martyrs Day.
Participation is free of charge. Let us celebrate our Martyrs, come and “Walk in the Footsteps of the Martyrs”.
For more Information, contact:
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
UGANDA TOURISM BOARD
P.O. Box 7211 Kampala,
Plot 42 Windsor Crescent Kololo
Tel: +256 (0) 414 342 196/7
Email: info@utb.go.ug
Web: www.visituganda.com
