Malawian Catholics to honour Ugandan Martyrs

Fifty-six Roman Catholis left Malawi for Uganda by road on Tuesday to join other faithful celebrate that country’s Martyrs Day slated for next week.

Organising chairperson of the pilgrimage, Spencer Chimaliro, said in an interview on Tuesday that 10 more will travel next week by air.

“A total of 66 Christians will travel to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine in Uganda to attend the celebrations. They are led by Father Bernard Tiyesa of Limbe Cathedral in Blantyre,” said Chimaliro.

He said the attendees have been drawn from the dioceses of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Mangochi, Dedza, Zomba and Karonga.

Chimaliro said the road travellers were expected to arrive on Friday after three days of rambling on the roads of Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. They are expected back on Sunday next week.

This is the fourth time Malawian Catholics have taken the pilgrimage to celebrate the feast of the 22 Uganda Martyrs who remain icons in most Catholics’ lives.

The martyrs were killed between 1885 and 1887 by King Kibaka Mwanga of Buganda Kingdom in Central Uganda for their courage, faithfulness and love of God.

Their deaths included burning to death, stabbing and dismembering. One was beheaded and his body was reportedly thrown into a swamp.

Yoweri Museveni’s administration declared the day as a national and public holiday in 1992.