By Gerry Loughran
Kampala — Pope Francis is to visit Uganda in November and a priest from the Diocese of Kasese expressed confidence that he would bring healing, comfort and joy to a country whose National Anthem proclaims that "Uganda is a land of freedom... "
With its famous 22 (now 24 with Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello) Catholic martyrs, who died in defence of their faith in 1885-1887, plus two Ugandans declared Blessed (one step short of sainthood), Uganda has more saints than any other African country.
Father Munna Walter Mashamba said: "It will be a privilege for us Ugandans to host the Pope in the land of the martyrs.
He is coming to affirm our spiritual beliefs reflected by those brave young men who stood for truth." It is 51 years since Pope Paul VI canonised the 22 as martyrs in Rome.
"The Pope will emphasise the universality of the church and will look for loyalty among Ugandans as he affirms the martyrs' courage," the priest said.
The former Argentine head of the Roman Catholic Church is to visit Kenya, Uganda and Central Africa from November 25-30, once again focussing his international travel on the developing world. It will be his first visit to Africa.
Pope Francis is scheduled to meet President Museveni and celebrate an open-air mass at Namugongo Martyrs shrine, which is expected to draw several thousands. Rather than politicians, the Pope is expected to meet the sick, the suffering, the youth, priests and his brother bishops.
Fr Mashamba, a former parish priest and chaplain to youth in Kasese Diocese, is currently studying theology in Rome.
In an interview in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he has been carrying out pastoral work, he said: "Hopefully there will be words of comfort for the poor and the marginalised.
Many youths are unemployed in Uganda, HIV/Aids is a big problem and there is the continuing scourge of corruption."
Pope Francis has announced a Year of Mercy to begin in December. Fr Mashamba said: "We look to leaders at this time to pursue fairness in governance, to provide resources for all, to act for the common good, to protect the vulnerable, the elderly and the defenceless and to assert traditional family values."
Uganda has been threatened by al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab group in Somalia and the Pope is expected to reiterate his view that human dignity and freedom of religion should be sacrosanct.
"Ugandans will be happy that the Pope is coming to an area that has been affected by jihadists," the priest said.
Fr Mashamba pointed out that some unhealthy behaviour, previously considered specific to Western culture, was now invading Africa.
"Secularism is entering Uganda very fast carried by technology. We do not want a situation where the computer becomes a child's mother and father. A strong family role such as the Pope encourages would prevent technology from taking the place of parenthood."
The Pope is expected to dialogue with the elderly, whom he regards as a storehouse of wisdom and experience -- a class that in the West is often secreted in homes for the elderly.
An important item on the Pope's agenda could be the environment, for which he expressed serious concern in his recent encyclical Laudato si.
Sub-titled "On care for our common good," the document criticises consumerism and irresponsible development and calls for concerted efforts to protect the natural world. It is aimed at implementing a "culture of care."
"Like so many countries, we have problems of deforestation, desertification, despoliation," said Fr Walter Munna.
"Uganda's beauty earned it the description, the Pearl of Africa, and it will be good if Francis can get across the message that the earth must be preserved for the good of coming generations."
Francis will be the third pope to visit Uganda. Paul VI came in 1969, five years after he canonised the martyrs, and John Paul II, now himself a saint, in 1993
. Father Walter Munna pointed out that President Museveni would be unusual in having welcomed two pontiffs - John Paul and Francis - in his capacity as head of State.
Museveni met Pope Francis on September 25 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, their second meeting in one year.
The Pope is likely to challenge Uganda's leaders to keep in mind ordinary people trapped in a cycle of poverty who need to be given hope. The fight against poverty must be undertaken constantly and on many fronts in the search for equal distribution of wealth.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference, the apex body for Catholic leaders in the country, announced a week ago that the theme of the papal visit is, 'You Will Be My Witness', picked from the Book of the Acts of Apostles 1: 8.
According to Fr Mashamba, the church considers the creation of jobs for the youth to be an essential part of the common good.
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