By Emmanuel Adigesi ( photo and video by Constance Ichuma)
UCU Fitness Club on Sunday joined pilgrims to Namugongo to commemorate the Uganda Martyrs day. Members covered a distance of 45.11km and 44042 steps, in 6 hours and 33mins, using the Strava App to monitor the journey, marking a significant moment in their fitness and spiritual journey.
This walk included participants from both Anglican and Catholic denominations, reflecting the unity of the Christian faith which has deep roots in Namugongo, the site where Christianity began to take a firm hold in Uganda in the late nineteenth century .
The UCU Fitness Club was founded in January 2023 with the purpose of fostering fitness within the community at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Charles Mitti , the founder of the club explains that this is done through a wide range of fitness activities which bring individuals together to participate, interact, and support one another:
“Just as the theme of UCU states -A complete Education for a Complete person- our club focuses on building a complete person, fully formed in character and discipline by enabling members to achieve strong physical, mental and spiritual fitness; competent enough to face the world after school” he said.
The club ‘s membership now stands at 30 students and 4 staff, and it is steadily growing.
Every year pilgrims from all over the world journey to Namugongo where 45 martyrs were killed during the reign of Kabaka Mwanga. These martyrs, who included 23 Anglicans and 22 Roman Catholics, were executed for refusing to renounce their Christian faith. The Roman Catholic martyrs were canonized in 1964 in Rome by Pope Paul the 6th , who followed up with a visit to Namugongo, on a first African papal visit.
During their visit, the UCU Fitness Club members explored various significant spots that highlight the grim history of the martyrs. They saw the store for firewood, the infamous torture tree known as Nda za bazadde, the place where weapons were sharpened, the prison where martyrs were held, the burning site, the burial ground for the ashes, and the water site where tools were washed after executions. Each location provided a profound glimpse into the past and the sacrifices made by the martyrs. The late Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo played a pivotal role as the vision bearer of the Anglican site at Namugongo, ensuring that the legacy of the martyrs continues to inspire future generations.
The walk by the UCU Fitness Club was not only a test of physical endurance but also a spiritual journey, connecting participants to a significant chapter of their faith’s history. The participants returned to UCU enriched with a deeper understanding and appreciation of their faith, inspired by the courage and devotion of the Namugongo martyrs.
