Archbishop Bainomugisha Calls for Forgiveness, Unity at Namugongo Pilgrimage

What the report says

Thousands of Catholic faithful gathered at the Namugongo Martyrs Catholic Shrine for the annual Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province Association pilgrimage, where Mbarara Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha used the occasion to call for forgiveness, unity and integrity in daily life. According to Nile Post, he delivered the homily at the event and pointed to the Uganda Martyrs as examples of courage, faith and reconciliation.

Bainomugisha urged Christians to apply those lessons in families, workplaces and wider communities. He said the martyrs’ witness should encourage believers to reject revenge, bitterness and division, and instead support one another across the five dioceses of the Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province. He also appealed for cooperation in evangelisation, education, healthcare, vocational work, youth ministry and care for the poor.

The archbishop linked the message to social and economic pressures facing many Ugandans, including sickness, unemployment, poverty, broken homes and insecurity. He encouraged people not to lose hope, saying the Christian story includes resurrection after hardship. He also gave targeted guidance to parents, young people, public servants, business people, priests and other church leaders, asking them to live honestly, avoid corruption and show their faith through conduct.

The remarks fit into the broader annual Namugongo Martyrs commemoration, a major religious gathering in Uganda that draws pilgrims from across the country. The event remains significant because it combines remembrance of the martyrs with public reflection on moral values, community responsibility and national life.