Masaka Catholic diocese is considering promoting the docking site of their first evangelists in Uganda for tourism. The diocese is planning to establish historical monuments on the shorelines of Lake Victoria at Bugoma in Muyoge sub-county in Kalangala district where the pioneer evangelists landed before beginning their missionary work in Uganda.
Reverend Father Simeon Laudel Mapel and Brother Amans Delmas, who introduced the Catholic faith in Uganda arrived from France in February 1879 through Lake Victoria on their journey to meet Kabaka Edward Muteesa I of Buganda to seek permission to evangelize the area.
Bishop Serverus Jjumba of Masaka Diocese, says that although the duo was destined for the Kabaka’s Palace in Kampala, their canoe cracked towards Kalangala Islands and accordingly made a two-days stopover at Mugoye landing site to have it repaired before they could proceed. They finally landed in Kigungu beach in Entebbe on February 17th, 1879 before walking to Muteesa’s palace.
Bishop Jjumba, who led the local congregation for pilgrimage to the landing site on Sunday, noted that the area is worth promoting for religious tourism because of its significance in the introduction of Christianity in Uganda.
He says that in addition to the annual pilgrimage, the diocese is going to develop the place into a modern tourism site that can clearly depict the history of the Catholic faith in Uganda and the foundation of the Church in the Sub Saharan region. Adjacent to this place, there is a primary school and an old church structure, which Bishop Jjumba says should be rehabilitated to meet that standard that deserves its significance.
Reverend Father Mujuzi Kakungulu Kizito, the Bumangi Parish Priest who is directly in charge of the place, says that they intend to put up permanent historical monuments that are decorated with portraits of the White Evangelists and their missionary journey.
He indicates that the parish, which stands as the second oldest in Uganda after Lubaga, has the burial site of one of the first white missionaries who accidentally fell into a trap that had been laid to capture a Hippopotamus, which instantly killed him.
He explains that in addition to developing part of the place into a leisure center, the Church intends to compile all the literature about the site, which will eventually be passed out as a tourism attraction.
Fred Badda, the former Member of Parliament for Bujumba constituency and a parishioner in Bumangi notes that it is a great idea to develop the place, saying it will clearly highlight the historical significance of this place both to the faith and instruction of civilization in Uganda.
He has called upon the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities to support the Church in developing the area as a potential source for foreign exchange.
The idea comes at a time when the Church is gathering public testimonies about the lives, works, and miracles of the first two missionaries for their possible canonization into sainthood.
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