Stop branding Namugongo a pork joint – Msgr. Kauta tells press

CATHOLICS | MARTYR'S DAY | PORK

KAMPALA - As the country gears up for the 2022 Martyrs’ Day celebrations, the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta has urged the press to report about the celebrations accurately and avoid exaggeration that may taint the celebrations' image.

Msgr. Kauta said often some members of the press forsake the main celebrations and focus on issues outside the shrines like pork eaters making the celebrations lose meaning.

“The main reason for the celebration is the spiritual mending of the faithful, however, some press focus on people with pieces of pork and those screaming which brands Namugongo a pork joint and spoils the objectives of the day out there,” Kauta said.

Msgr. Kauta made the remarks during a press conference where the diocese of Fort Portal that will be leading in this year’s celebrations was giving an update on the organization, at the Episcopal Conference Secretariat at Nsambya Kampala.

Kauta said often some members of the press forsake the main celebrations and focus on issues outside the shrines like pork eaters making the celebrations lose meaning. (Credit: Lawrence Mulondo)

The priest said whenever there are martyrs’ day celebrations, people with bad characters like con men also attend for their selfish reasons.

“We often get people calling us not about the prayers but asking why we conned people after watching news stories,” he noted.

Christians will be celebrating this year’s Martyrs Day with open prayers after two years of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year in February, the Episcopal Conference chose the Diocese of Fort Portal to lead in the Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations. 

Fort Portal Diocese last led in the celebrations 25 years ago in 1997.