(by Isabella Awor Olong) [Picture: Bishop Emeritus Joseph Franzelli with some pilgrims]
Lira Catholic Diocese cancelled its the planned pilgrimages organised by the Parishes for the annual Uganda Martyrs celebrations that takes place every 3rd June after the surge of the new wave of Covid-19.
In a communique also broadcast live on Radio Wa from Uganda Martyrs Church on the solemnity of the Holy Trinity Sunday Mass, Bishop Santus Lino Wanok directed that the celebrations should instead take place in the respective parishes and chapels. He explained that the cancellation stemmed from a directive from President Yoweri Museveni in his Sate of the Nation address on Saturday that restricted movements of people from one place to the other in a bid to ensure Standard Operations Procedures-Sops against Corona Virus.
The bishop who decried the negative propaganda on vaccination against Covid-19, urged the public to go for the vaccination in large numbers.
Meanwhile, Andrew Ocen, the leader of pilgrims from Amolatar district asked those who had prepared spiritually and physically for the three day track on foot to Minakulu Parish not to loose hope but keep praying in commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs. The Lira Diocesan Uganda Martyrs pilgrimage to Minakulu had attracted pilgrims from the Parishes of Dokolo, Bala, Ngetta, Aber, Lira Cathedral, Aloi and Agweng among others.