PRESIDENT MUSEVENI, CATHOLICS OBSERVE ASSUMPTION DAY AT KIWAMIREMBE

By; Francis Jjunju

Hundreds of believers have gathered at Kiwamirembe Catholic Shrine in Lweza Parish to celebrate the day of Assumption of Mother Mary into heaven.

The day is observed globally by the Catholic Church every August 15^th as the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.

The Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga led the Catholic community for this year’s celebration while President Museveni led the political side along with the State Minister for Primary Education Rosemary Sseninde, the former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Speaker Margaret Zziwa and members of parliament among others.

Addressing the congregation, President Museveni apologized for interrupting the gospel movement of the Catholic Church to Ugandans when he joined the Tanzanians for the 1979 war against the late Idi Amini Dada but said the suffering brought peace which nobody should compromise with.

Museveni contributed 20 million shillings in cash and pledged another 80mshs towards the construction of a four storied pilgrim’s hostel estimated to cost 4.2 billion shillings but acknowledged the contribution made to strengthen faith through the intercession of Mother Mary who intercedes for this county

However, His Grace Dr. Lwanga said Kiwamirembe was secured in remembrance of its past bad image, a place that camped huge armies that shielded Kampala and the surrounding.  After the war, Lwaza Parish through Fr. John Benarld together with the Catholic Church in Uganda bought and consecrated it to Mother Mary to pray for peace in the country.

He called for peace, honesty, unity, care for the poor, pray for each other and seek God’s guidance for all Ugandans and leaders. He also laid a foundation stone for the construction of the Pilgrims Hostel.

Uganda was dedicated to Mother Mary in 1879 when the missionaries arrived in Uganda and such praying center like Kiwamirembe among others are aimed at reminding Ugandans to pray for Uganda through the intercession of Mother Mary to be peaceful.