Hmmmnnn it was the last day for the organizing committee, the Chairman (Kampala) was visibly tired but carefully scrutinizing each and everything to see to it that every little thing had been taken care of at the site – it was June 2, 2011 and the day long awaited for was June 3, 2011 the day when Christians celebrate the life of the Uganda Martyrs who lost their lives in the name of their faith. Sr. Driciru our Sub-committee head looked tired too!
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| The Shrine at Namugongo |
But who are these people, I think I will refer you to the world famous site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Martyrs to read more about them. Being a member of the catholic faith and hailing from West Nile a community of catholic faithful who were tasked to organize the celebrations this year, I got more insight into the workings of the people of the church!
As we sat there me, Charles, Sr., Mr. Etima ... Watching people move up and down the sound of the music was calming, they had travelled all the way from the churches in West Nile practiced to play music together on this special day, they carried contemporary and traditional musical instruments and played them in combination like they naturally blended, the sound of music was heavenly as they tested their instruments and voices in all languages they could master!
They too were doing their final touches ... It was amazing to see people sing and sway in colour in a uniform manner like the wave of the grass on the wheat plantation!
There had been a lot of planning in Arua, Kampala elsewhere in Entebbe, Lugazi , Jinja, Pakwach, Nebbi, Moyo and Adjumani among other places, people, pilgrims came from many countries around Africa and beyond! All to remember the lives of the dead men and ask for their intersession with God for it was believed that they lived in favour of Gods ways... Pilgrims confessed their sins all over the compound kneeling and asking for God’s mercy and wisdom in their worldly being!
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| The Church at Namugongo near Kampala |
The Church remained idle for the evening ...
I thought to myself if I had observed the teachings of the bible? I asked myself what does this all mean, and could there be a whole new country/planet up there in a place called Heaven where these people would live a better and eternal life? What if that was the country/planet where life was forever and free of the spoils of earth? A world that Maximus (from the movie Gladiator) believed in where he would meet his people – but he had to do the movie first “Not yet” he would share with his black friend! So as we all make our movies lets think
Then I decided that what I was doing was good, being there sharing my ideas and collecting funds and doing anything to make the day a success would be great, like my friend Dr. Alicai from Namulonge community, we believed this day is worth all the energy! Titus and his community among others gave generously to the day! The OB’s in their individual capacities turned up in large numbers in various committees and teams!
Then like a miracle the day had come, it was full of colour, it was full of people, it was a place where politics or skin colour did not matter, it was a place where white and black, green and yellow all mixed freely to pray to one God! The only other comparable mammoth crowd would be that of the football fans at Namboole where again it did not matter – what mattered was your God or your Team!!!
Starting off with mass (prayers), it was hard to ignore the rhythm and thematic movements of the dancers who danced to the music and the processions as well as the delivery of offertory which was full of anything that nature can provide from fruits to hard cash, from animals to vegetables anything that man could appreciate was offered in the mass.
Christians, politicians and tourists all found the spectacle worth their time, traders made money, service providers too and some FMCG providers also made mileage advertising them-selves – it was indeed a big enterprise.
A successfully organised Uganda Martyrs day happened!!! Big thanks to the West Nile Community especially in Arua and of course all those in other places.
