By URN
Rt. Rev. Christopher Kakooza, Bishop of Lugazi Diocese, has called on the faithful to uphold the mission of the Uganda Martyrs by living out their faith with love, courage, and commitment. The bishop made the remarks during his brief but powerful homily at this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations held at the Namugongo Catholic Shrines.
He emphasized that today’s believers have inherited the mission of witness from the martyrs—a mission that calls for proclaiming the Gospel boldly in a world often overwhelmed by despair and uncertainty. “Life is filled with trials and suffering,” he said.
“But our troubles are temporary. The martyrs understood this—they suffered in hope, witnessing to the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ.” Describing the martyrs as “pilgrims of hope,” Bishop Kakooza reminded the congregation that love is the driving force behind selfless service and sacrifice. He urged Christians to deepen their spiritual journey through prayer and acts of charity, noting that such expressions of love bind believers more closely to God and to one another.
This year’s liturgy was led by Lugazi Diocese under the theme “Lord, Let Me See Again – A Pilgrim of Hope.” The event attracted pilgrims from across Uganda, other African nations, and beyond. Among the attendees were bishops from Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and South Africa.
During the celebration, Bishop Antony Zziwa, Chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, officially launched the Martyrs Edition of the Good News Bible. He announced that the Uganda Episcopal Conference, in partnership with the Bible Society, had published this special edition to mark the pilgrimage year.
“The edition includes all the Catholic books of the Bible, and we recommend that you purchase a copy,” Bishop Zziwa told the faithful. Reflecting on the Church’s synodal journey, Bishop Zziwa noted that in March, the Conference of Bishops reviewed the final documents from the Synod held in Rome in October of the previous year.
“The bishops received the final documents and, with the guidance of national and diocesan teams, are now working to interpret and apply the synod’s conclusions within the local Church,” he said. The occasion also served as a farewell to Archbishop Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, who has been transferred to a new diplomatic assignment.
Bishops and the faithful joined in thanking him for his dedicated service to the Church in Uganda.
