The security team at Namugongo catholic martyrs’ shrines had by today 11 am today collected 11 mobile phones misplaced by pilgrims. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Achilles Atwebembere, the Kira Division Police Community Liaison Officer, many pilgrims leave their mobile phones where they are sitting.
ASP Atwebembere said the covert teams deployed among the pilgrims collected the mobile phones and other items such as handbags and took them to the shrine police station. Police said through announcements made on loudspeakers, some of the pilgrims have been able to pick their mobile phones and bags.
“When we get these items, we taken them to the police station inside this shrine and we make announcements for the owners to pick them. We had 11 mobile phones but some have already been picked by the owners including bags,” ASP Atwebembere said.
Police have so far reunited eight children with parents or guardians and were by 11 am left with only two who were yet to get their relatives. However, police said majority of the people who are getting lost are adults.
“It is adults who are getting lost more than the children. The adults fail to get back to where they were sitting when they visit washrooms and thus they cannot trace their relatives or friends they came with. But we have also been making announcements on these loud speakers and many have been reunited with the people they came with,” ASP Atwebembere said.
Fr Godfrey Mbowa, the chairperson Lugazi diocese organizing commit said one pilgrim had given birth at the Catholic shrine and was successfully helped by the medical teams and she was in good health. “I am yet to get details of the mother who gave birth but we have been informed that she successfully gave birth in the hands of medical personnel and she is in good health,” Fr Mbowa said.
Fr Mbowa said they stopped registering pilgrims because the number became overwhelming from Saturday. He added that they have not registered any security glitches and urged pilgrims who are still on the way not to worry because the place is big enough and they have teams ready to cater for them
ASP Atwebembere also urged pilgrims to come and follow the provided security protocols so that they are not disturbed. “We have put various security checkpoints and we urge pilgrims to ensure they follow all the guidelines. Whoever will come here, he will be allowed to enter provided they follow security protocols,” ASP Atwebembere said.
This year’s martyrs day celebrations at the Catholic shrines are being spearheaded by Lugazi diocese headed by Bishop Christopher Kakooza. The animating diocese made a grant entry yesterday and swiftly changed atmosphere because of the huge crowd of pilgrims.
However, security was yet to provide numbers of suspects arrested for engaging in various crimes. Nevertheless, it is reported that by today morning, 13 people had been arrested for engaging in pickpocketing, theft and becoming public nuisances.