|
Uganda Martyrs Trail Launched
as
Legacy of 4th IIPT African Conference
|
(Kampala, Uganda
June 20) Uganda Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and
Antiquities, Hon. Serapio Rukundo, launched the
Uganda Martyrs Trail commemorating the events of 3
June 1886, when thirty-two young men were burned to
death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce
Christianity. The Uganda Martyrs Trail was launched at a
special ceremony during the 4th IIPT African
Conference on Peace through Tourism. |
|
Martyr's Trail Basilica
Namugongo - Uganda |
The arrival of
Christian missionaries in the 1880’s marked a turning
point in the religious life of the people of Buganda; as
well as the political structure of the kingdom and the
region at large. Christianity was received with much
excitement but becoming a Christian required a
commitment to break away from traditional lifestyles and
adjusting to new moral and religious standards. The new
believers were therefore regarded as 'rebels' who had
abandoned tribal traditions. |
Given these conflicting values, King Mwanga was
determined to rid his kingdom of the new teaching and
its followers. He ordered the converts to choose between
their new faith, and complete obedience to his orders.
Those unwilling to renounce their faith would be subject
to death. Courageously, the young Christians chose their
faith and the King ordered the burning to death of
thirty two young Christian men at Namugongo on June 3,
1886.
Rather than deter the growth of Christianity, the
martyrdom of these early believers sparked its growth.
Christianity is now the dominant faith in Buganda and
Uganda as a whole. The 22 known Catholic martyrs were
canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 18, 1964 and are
now recognized as Saints by the Catholic Church. This
was a first for modern Africa and a source of pride
throughout the continent.
In launching the Uganda Martyrs Trail, Minister Rukundo
stated: “The Trail will serve to create a greater
international awareness of Uganda’s first Christians who
sacrificed their lives rather than renounce their faith
– and will attract pilgrims from regions throughout the
world seeking a spiritual experience.”
Pope Paul VI became the first reigning Pope to visit
Sub-Saharan Africa when he visited Uganda in July 1969,
a visit which included a pilgrimage to the site of the
martyrdom at Namugongo. While there, he dedicated a site
for the building of a shrine church in honor of the
martyrs which was subsequently dedicated in 1975 as a
Basilica. Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury, and
head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, also came on
pilgrimage in January 1984, and Pope John Paul II in
turn honored the martyrs with his own pilgrimage in
February 1993. June 3rd of every year is
commemorated as Uganda Martyrs Day in Uganda – a
national holiday.
The Uganda Martryrs Trail will wind its way through the
various sites where the Uganda Martyrs were killed or
tortured in the 1880s including the Namirembe Cathedral,
where Bishop James Hannington's remains were buried;
Rubaga Cathedral, where archives on the lives of 22
Catholic martyrs are kept; Old Kampala, where St Mathias
Mulumba was killed; and Namugongo, where martyrs were
burned alive.
An IIPT International Peace Park was also dedicated at
Namugongo with the planting of Peace Trees as part of
the Trail launching ceremony. IIPT Founder and President
Louis D’Amore said “IIPT is immensely honored to be part
of this dedication ceremony. In walking this sacred
ground, one comes to an appreciation that we are all
sons and daughters of the One Creator – and for this
reason, Namugongo offers unique possibilities as an
International Peace and Reconciliation Center – where
spiritual pilgrims can find peace within themselves –
and parties in conflict can find peace and
reconciliation with one another.”
About International Institute for Peace through Tourism
(IIPT)
IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism
initiatives which contribute to international
understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of
environment, the preservation of heritage, and poverty
reduction, and through these initiatives, help bring
about a more peaceful and sustainable world.
IIPT’s mission is to mobilize travel and tourism, the
world’s largest industry, as the world’s first ‘Global
Peace Industry,’ an industry that promotes and supports
the belief that ‘Every traveler is potentially an
Ambassador for Peace.’
|
|
For more information on IIPT please
visit:
www.iipt.org; Tel: 802 253.2658; Fax: 802 253.2645;
Email:
Africa@iipt.org
Media Contact: Karen Hoffman, The Bradford Group.
Tel: 212 447.0027;
Email:
iiptmedia@aol.com
|
|
