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Thousands of devoted pilgrims from the Lango subregion have concluded a challenging journey of faith as they prepare to mark the annual Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo.
The pilgrims arrived in Kampala, having trekked for over a month.
Connecting with the faithful, Jane Frances Acilo, an aspirant for the Oyam district woman MP seat in the 2026 elections, shared her experience of meeting with the men, women and children.
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Acilo joined the faithful at St. Francis Catholic Parish in Matugga, where her interactions with pilgrims, priests, and sisters left a deeply humbling and spiritually uplifting impression.
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She said meeting the weary but determined pilgrims, particularly those from her home district of Oyam, was a genuine gesture of "love, trust and being close to those seeking spiritual healing and undertaking the walk of faith."
Having grown up in a religious family, Acilo expressed a deep personal understanding of the significance of their arduous 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."
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A Tribute to Endurance and Faith
The pilgrims from Northern Uganda faced numerous challenges on their path to Namugongo. Acilo commended their remarkable perseverance, calling their dedication a "commendable job."
To offer tangible support and encouragement, Acilo donated items valued at UGX 6 million to the pilgrims, priests, and Sisters at St. Francis Matuuga.
Her "Acilo branded mineral water" was particularly well-received, with some pilgrims joyfully exclaiming that "holy water has come," believing it would strengthen their faith and energy for the remainder of their journey.
Later in the day, she extended her outreach to Anglican pilgrims at St. Peters Lwadda, Matugga, urging all to remain steadfast as they approached the Martyrs Shrines.
She pledged to be with them again on June 3, 2025, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to their spiritual journey.
Acilo used the opportunity to emphasise the immense sacrifice of the Uganda Martyrs, whose courage paved the way for the freedom of worship in the nation. "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 stated.
Beyond the spiritual encouragement, Acilo also delivered a message of hope and progress for her constituents in Oyam, calling for a "new season" of leadership and innovative ideas, urging the community to focus on practical solutions to improve their lives.
Acilo strongly advocated for embracing commercial agriculture as the most effective way to combat poverty and increase household incomes in Lango.
"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 declared.