Reconstruction of Namugongo Pilgrim site to boost Cultural Safaris in Uganda

Every 3rd of June is a public holiday in Uganda and it is marked by the world church calendar. Namugongo pilgrim site was canonized by Pope Paul VI on 18th October 1964 during the Vatican II conference. He did this in memory of the 22 Catholic martyrs who were burnt alive by Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda. Namugongo Pilgrim site is one the leading cultural tourism sites in Uganda because of the touching history that the place represents. Both local people and people from different parts of the world make it a point to make a holy pilgrimage to the place every year.

This year, there are many visitors expected to make Uganda Safaris to this holy place and as a result, the Catholic Church has finalized the plans for reconstruction of the site. This is mainly to improve the beauty of the site and even attract more visitors during this year who will come to experience the tour packages availed.

According to Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala, there are plans to construct an open-air pavilion and hotels while the Island altar and the Lake trough will be renovated.

Other facilities to be constructed include a new house for visiting clergy and a museum. The museum will contain the history of each of the Uganda Martyrs and their portraits shall be displayed for visitors to see. This is to enable visitors to get a clear understanding of the history about the martyrs who were killed because of their faith.

All roads and walkways at the site are to be tarmacked so as to improve the accessibility and free movement of visitors. Two dormitories, one for males and the other for females, a restaurant and many washrooms are to be constructed too.

One of the key challenges the site faces is lack of clean water in the lake, but Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga said that the dirty water in the lake will be drained and the basin worked on to create a permanent trough of clean water. This water will be protected by a perimeter wall which will restrain people from contaminating it.

The Archbishop also added that a new altar shall be erected at the extreme end of the lake and it will be large enough to give the pilgrims a wonderful view while at the terraces or in the pavilion. This altar will be next to the proposed pavilion and easily seen from a wider range.

A police station will also be setup, which will accommodate ten policemen together with their families. This police station according to Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, will be named St. Ponsiano Ngondwe, who is currently the army and police patron.

This whole project is expected to be completed by October, 2014, just in time to mark 50 years since 22 Uganda Catholic martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul VI and declared saints as St. Peter’s Bailica,Rome on 18th October 1964.

Uganda is expecting to host Pope Francis who will be jetting into the country to celebrate the martyr’s golden jubilee. He is expected to visit the country in October and this will market the country worldwide. Cultural Safari packages in the country will increase as many visitors will visit this historical site.