Pilgrims from Lango sub-region finally made their way to the Namugongo Martyrs shrine for this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, set for Tuesday, June 3.
Joining the procession, Jane Frances Acilo, an aspirant for the Oyam district woman MP seat in 2026, described her encounter with the Lango pilgrims as a deeply humbling and spiritually uplifting experience.
On May 29, 2025, Acilo joined the faithful at St. Francis Catholic Parish in Matuuga, where she spent time engaging with pilgrims, priests, and Sisters who made way towards the Namugongo Martyrs Shrines ahead of the annual Martyrs Day celebrations.
She said her visit was a personal expression of solidarity with those undertaking a physically and spiritually demanding journey. She explained that growing up in a religious family gave her a strong appreciation of the importance of faith and pilgrimage.
“They have been walking for almost a month, which is a commendable job. They have faced a lot of challenges to get to this point. So it was very important to come and stand with them, support them and give them some water and some little encouragement as they near the end of their journey.”
“The walk of faith is a personal journey, but to witness people expressing their faith is very humbling,” Acilo reflected. “When I interact with the pilgrims and see the level of faith they have, I see that there is a greater power that leads us in the things that we do.”
During her time at Matugga, Acilo provided support valued at UGX 6 million to assist the pilgrims and the religious community.
The visit also extended to Anglican pilgrims gathered at St. Peter’s Lwadda, Matugga, where Acilo encouraged them to remain faithful and committed as they drew closer to the Martyrs’ Shrines. She pledged to be present with them during the final stages of the pilgrimage on June 3, 2025.
Acilo spoke movingly about the sacrifices made by the Uganda Martyrs, whose courage allowed Christianity to flourish in the country. “The martyrs gave their lives so we can be able to go to church. Christianity could have been a banned religion if they had not given their lives for this cause,” she said.
“It is therefore important for us to celebrate them and recognise the role that they played for us to be able to practice our faiths.”
Addressing the people of Oyam, she called for a new season marked by fresh leadership and innovative ideas. She urged her constituents to focus on improving livelihoods through embracing commercial agriculture as a sustainable way to combat poverty.
“To the people of Oyam, this is a new season for a new leadership; it is time to embrace new ideas; it is time to focus on changing the livelihoods of the people, increasing household incomes and aspiring for a better future,” she stated.