On the way to entebbe to pick up the kids(!) and we got to witness some of the pilgrims traveling for the celebrations for martyrs day.
I’m struck by the outfits and gear of these travelers some of whom walk hundreds of kilometers in sandals and home made backpacks. GoRucks and Mudders should try this style of “exercise”. :-)
From the Wikipedia entry for Ugandan Martyr’s Day:
The Uganda Martyrs were Christian converts who were murdered for their faith in the historical kingdom of Buganda, now part of Uganda. The main reasons for their murder were refusal to offer sacrifices to the traditional gods and objection to and resistance to King Mwanga’s homosexual practices. Their killings seem to have been tied to specific resistance to Mwanga’s attempts to engage in homosexual practices with those killed immediately before the killings.
From ugandamartyrsshrine.org:
Uganda Martyrs’ Day Celebrations are held every 3rd June at the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine, Namugongo, Kampala-Uganda. In Uganda, this day is a public holiday, which gives chance to millions of people from near and far to make pilgrimage to this Holy Land.
The Martyrs’ Day celebrations begin with a Novena in various parts of the country especially in places where different Martyrs were either born or killed. The Novena begins from 25th May to 2nd June. The Novena at Namugongo is also attended by pilgrims from neighbouring countries like; Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and from some other continents.
Many of these pilgrims, young and old, walk miles and miles from their home areas up to Namugongo as a sign of honour to the Martyrs who shed their blood for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
