Anglican Church asks for 600 million shillings for Martyrs’ Day

The Anglican Church is about Sh600 million short of organizing a successful Martyrs’ Day celebration scheduled for June 3 in Nakiyanja, Namugongo, Wakiso District.

The Chairman of the Uganda Martyrs Day Organizing Committee, Rev. Reuben Kisembo, said they need about Sh2.17 billion to cater for the one million pilgrims expected to attend the event this year.

Reverend Kisembo said in this regard that President Museveni has pledged 1.5 billion shillings while the Church has 100 million shillings in its account.

This leaves a shortfall of approximately Sh600 million that the church has to raise to cover budgeted items.

Without breaking down the budget, Rev. Kisembo said the money is intended to cover accommodation for church leaders, food and drink for pilgrims, security and the completion of work on the new souvenir project, which has cost 450 million shillings.

They will also pay for the uniforms of the choir members, rent tents and chairs, a music system, buy medicine for pilgrims who fall ill, as well as clean the place, among others.

“President Museveni promised to give us Sh1.5 billion. However, the money has not yet been deposited into our accounts. We are in touch with the House of Representatives to help leverage the funds to be able to book goods and services on time,” said Rev. Kisembo.

The annual event honors 45 martyrs (22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans), who were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda because of their faith. Reverend Kisembo said they expect to receive around a million pilgrims during this year’s celebrations after the significant expansion of the site with a new souvenir with capacity for more than 1,000 people.

Last year the church welcomed more than 40,000 pilgrims from different parts of the country. The celebrations were organized by the eastern group.

Bishop of Masindi-Kitara Diocese George William Asiimwe said the mid-west group will take charge of this year’s celebrations.

The mid-west group includes the dioceses of Rwenzori, East Rwenzori, West Rwenzori, South Rwenzori, Bunyoro-Kitara and Masindi.

“Rain or shine, the show must be performed. If we cannot raise the money necessary for the celebrations, we will borrow. However, before we borrowed, the government and other believers promised us money and we are still optimistic,” Bishop Asiimwe told Monitor on May 8.

Like last year’s celebrations, President Museveni is expected to be the chief guest at this year’s event.