The group that is currently camped at Bukwali Catholic Parish in Fort Portal City is rehearsing songs composed in English, Luganda, Swahili, Rutooro and Lingala, and others.
290 choir members from Fort Portal Diocese have been selected to animate at next month's Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.
The annual celebration was set aside in honor of the martyrdom of 45 young men
who converted to Christianity between 1885 and 1887 to the annoyance of the
then Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda, who ordered that they are burnt to
death.
Millions of pilgrims from within and outside Uganda descend on Namugongo, the
site where the majority of the converts were martyred, in celebration of their
bravery. Fort Portal Diocese is animating this year’s celebrations.
The group that
is currently camped at Bukwali Catholic Parish in Fort Portal City is rehearsing songs composed in English,
Luganda, Swahili, Rutooro and Lingala, and others.
Fr Joseph
Musana, the Music Director says that singing songs in different languages is
intended to connect with the millions of pilgrims that are expected in
Namugongo for the annual celebrations on June 3.
Fr Musana says
the choir began with 350 participants, however, the number was reduced to 290
during auditioning. He says that the group began its preparations as soon as
the diocese was declared the animator last year.
He adds that
students from various catholic affiliated schools around Fort Portal will be part
of the choir.
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Herbert Muyomba, an organist at Fort Portal Diocese says that the choir is
ready and well prepared for the event. Muyomba
says it’s an honor that he will be participating in the celebrations as an
organist.
According to Muyomba, despite having inadequate time to prepare, the group has
exhibited zeal and passion during rehearsals.
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On Monday, Pilgrims
from Fort Portal Diocese started the pilgrimage to Namugongo Martyrs
Shrine. The foot
pilgrims drawn from various parishes celebrated mass in which they received
final blessings at Virika Cathedral at the seat of Fort Portal Diocese
from Bishop Robert Muhirwa.
