Thousands of Christians from different walks of life are expected to converge at Wi Polo Shrine in Kalongo Sub-county, Agago District today to celebrate Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa who were martyred at Paimol, Agago District in 1918.

Blessed Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa are Acholi catechists who were beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 20 2002 among the 22 other Roman Catholic martyrs in Uganda.
The annual spiritual event is celebrated every October 20, to commemorate the devotion the martyrs put up to sacrifice their faith for Christianity in northern Uganda.

This year’s celebrations under the theme ‘For me life is Christ, Death is gain” have been organised by Lacor Deanery which comprises of five parishes in Amuru, Gulu and Nwoya districts

The chairperson central organising committee, Mr Geoffrey Odokonyero, told Daily Monitor in an interview on Tuesday that preparations for the event were ongoing and 50,000 pilgrims are expected to grace the event. “The furnishing of the shrine is complete, pre-celebrations have already begun with Mass being conducted daily,” Mr Odokonyero said.

He said pilgrims including Italians, Germans and South Sudanese have already camped at the Shrine in preparation for the day.

The Vice President Edward Sekandi is the guest of honor while Gulu Diocese Bishop John Baptist Odama will be the main celebrant.

Aswa Regional police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema said security at the shrine has already been beefed up to ensure safety of the pilgrims during .

Pilgrims at last year’s celebrations for Uganda martyrs, Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa in Agago.