122 pilgrims brave 100km trek of faith to Ngora

NGORA - Every year on March 19, Soroti Catholic Diocese celebrates the day when the Catholic Church stepped and started in Teso land. 

The event is always held in Ngora because it is where the Catholic faith started before it spread to other parts of Teso.

The deaneries that lead masses and all arrangements are always selected on a rotational basis in the whole of Soroti diocese.

On Friday, a total of 122 pilgrims started the journey of faith to Ngora Catholic Parish to strengthen their faith as they celebrate the beginning of faith in Teso sub-region.

The 78 pilgrims who started their journey on the morning of Friday 14, 2025 were joined by another team from Katine Catholic Parish at St. Peters Catholic Church Ochuloi from Soroti district. Another 44 joined in  Kaberamaido.

The chairperson of the pilgrim team from Kaberamaido, Betty Angobu, said this was her ninth time to trek to Ngora.

Angobu said Ngora was special for them as Catholics from Teso because it also acts as a place where the Catholic faith started in Teso.

The vice chairperson of the organising committee, Alfred Ewatu, said it was Kaberamaido deanery that has been mandated to take the lead in all the arrangements for this year 2025 in Ngora.

According to Ewatu, the pilgrims slept in Soroti City on Friday and will have the second day up to Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Kyere Catholic Church.

On Sunday morning March 16, the pilgrims will move up Ngora where the vicar general will open a three-day crusade while the bishop of Soroti, Joseph Eciru Oliach will crown the day on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Ngora.

Before saying mass at St Peters’ Ochuloi chapel, the parish priest of Katine, Rev Fr Charles Osire who received the group said the pilgrims had shown strong faith just like Joseph in the Bible.

Pilgrims share their wishes

Some of the pilgrims on the trip shared some of their wishes.

Joseph Obate, 88, said he was praying for good health. “I am always sickly. I am praying through this pilgrimage for God to give me good health”, Obate said.

Kotida Agwelo from Alwa sub county, said she was going to Ngora to strengthen her faith.

She said this was her first time to have this kind of trip.

“Whereas some people go to Namugongo for martyrs’ day, I decided to begin with Ngora. I may graduate to Namugongo next time”, Agwelo said.

The only female catechist in this pilgrimage,  Christine Atero from St Joseph Agule Chapel in Kaberamaido said they had made up their mind to have this trip such that they prayed to God to give her strength to lead her flock.

“As a female leader, I need strength from God. I believe through this pilgrimage, God will reward me”, Atero said.