Following the Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3 at the Namugongo Catholic Shrine, around 40 pilgrims found themselves stranded, unable to secure transport back to their homes. Many pilgrims, who traveled long distances on foot from various parts of Uganda, said they had exhausted their transport funds or faced cancellations from bus operators.
Ms. Agnes Kanakuzi, 68, from Masaka, told the Daily Monitor she had been sleeping outside in the cold while hoping for help. “I came here on Monday to pray for a miracle but cannot return home because I lack funds,” she said, noting she had lost most of her children who would have supported her.
Several pilgrims had booked buses and paid deposits to bus owners who were supposed to ferry them back home on the morning after the celebrations. However, many buses never arrived. Mr. Ignitious Atekega from Fort Portal Diocese explained that the bus owner cited mechanical issues and the bus was stuck in a garage, leaving the pilgrims waiting without clarity on when transport would come.
The Namugongo Catholic Shrine Parish Priest, Fr. Vicent Lubega, acknowledged the situation, noting that it is common for pilgrims to stay behind after celebrations, causing congestion and delays in transport. “By morning, some people had been picked up, but several remain waiting for their buses,” Fr. Lubega said. He assured that the Church was coordinating with Lugazi Diocese to arrange transport for those stranded but clarified that the Church would not distribute cash to avoid misuse of funds.
Fr. Lubega also noted that some of the pilgrims, especially the elderly or mentally ill, could not remember their home locations and promised the Church would assist in returning them to their respective parishes.
By evening, a bus had been secured to transport pilgrims to Masaka and Rakai, while efforts continued to find alternatives for those traveling east. “I am hopeful that by the end of the day, all pilgrims will be taken home and the shrine area cleared,” Fr. Lubega said.
Cleaning Efforts Underway
June 4 marked a clean-up day at Namugongo Shrine, where a large amount of garbage was left behind after the celebrations. Women from Lugazi Diocese, along with foreign pilgrims from Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania, were seen clearing the grounds.
Ms. Teddy Nakafeero, one of the organizers, explained that cleaning was a shared responsibility. “Since we organized this year’s celebrations, we volunteered to clean the site, assisted by foreign pilgrims. The biggest challenge was the cooking areas where a lot of waste was left,” she said.
The Church continues to coordinate efforts to support pilgrims and maintain the shrine’s cleanliness as it prepares for future events.