By President Yoweri Museveni has today visited Uganda Martyrs Catholic Church in Rome which is dedicated to the Uganda Catholic Martyrs by the Vatican and described as the most beautiful Church in the world.
Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs Janet Museveni, the President also toured a number of Roman historical sites in Rome and the Vatican.
A statement issued by Uganda’s state house said that the president who is on a for work visit to Italy and the Vatican, told worshipers at the Uganda Catholic Martyrs Church that he had not visited them previously because he was not aware of such a church.
“President Museveni with his wife Janet Museveni toured the complex which includes, a church building, recreation facilities and an office. He donated $10,00,” the statement said.
The president is accompanied by ministers, Adolf Mwesigye of Local Government, Okello Oryem of Foreign Affairs, and the NRM Chief Whip Kasule Lumumba.
Others in the delegation include LCV chairperson Kamuli District Salaam Musumba who is representing leaders of local governments, Mama Thereza Mbire, a senior advisor to the President representing the Laity Catholics, MP Margret Alepune who is representing the Catholic Chapter in the Parliament, Monsignor Odongo, the Vicar General of Gulu Diocese representing the Archbishop and Mzee Victor Kobero who is representing the business community. Mengo was represented by Kalule Mugerwa.
“I did not visit you during the previous two times I have been in Rome because nobody in Uganda told me about this Church,” he said, adding however, “that by the time the church was dedicated to the Uganda Martyrs, the country was in political turmoil.” He assured the people that since the country is peaceful he will maintain closeness with the church. Museveni noted that the dedication was very important to the Martyrs, Ugandans and the country.
He told the worshipers that Christian organizations have contributed to Uganda’s social, health, and education sectors and that Christians are 86 percent of the population.
Museveni introduced Maama Thereza Mbiire one of the people he traveled with who attended the dedication in 1980.
The Parish Priest Rev. Father Dan Luigi thanked the President for visiting them and said that his visit was very important to the church because he was the first president to visit.
The president had earlier toured the Vatican Museum and St Peter’s Basilica. He visited a number of the church’s historical and important places. The Church and the Museum attracts over 25,000 tourists a day. The President also visited the Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel), Roman Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, commissioned in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian, the tomb of the unknown soldier and the Piazza Venesia. He is expected to meet Pope Francis tomorrow.