Uganda spends Ksh1.2 billion on Papal visit preparations

During his visit in Uganda, the Pope will walk on water bathed in beautiful light from the sides, above and under his feet to the altar from where he will conduct mass.

This is the Ksh1.3 billion (Ush44 billion) welcome the people of Uganda and their government have prepared for Pope Francis, who is set to visit the land-locked country November 27 for a packed two-day visit. Church members contributed some of the money used in the project.

We ask to be taken to the venue at the Catholic Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, where one of Uganda’s martyrs and saint, Charles Lwanga, was burnt alive.

On top of the actual site where St Charles Lwanga was burnt, an altar was built and a basilica erected where Catholic faithful worship every Sunday. The compound was however, sealed off two months ago to allow for construction and for security reasons.

We are allowed into the venue at about 1:30 pm and the mood is busy, what you imagine the inside of a beehive to be like.

In spite of the rain, workers are moving up and down pushing wheelbarrows laden with cement, others are planting grass trying to beat a three-week deadline.

We clear with security before getting access to the compound where the basilica and amphitheater in which the Pope will conduct mass during his visit to Uganda is situated.

We meet with Brother Peter who takes us round the basilica that has a rich history dating back to the advent of Christianity in Africa.

Brother Peter takes us round the Basilica where explains its key features and its history as we wait for the resident Engineer who is expected to show us the progress of the construction work in the amphitheater.

At first we thought the place was cute, it could pass. Though we wondered where the over three million faithful they expected to attend the mass were going to sit.

Semakula Stephen, the resident engineer, was patient with us, leading us down the pavement to the site where the Pope is expected to address the faithful and, lo and behold! We were faced with a massive amphitheater, which despite being under construction showed evidence of its magnificence.

We are taken aback!

Our guide, the resident engineer, explains that the amphitheater has been in existence for decades but is currently undergoing renovations and expansion in preparation for Pope Francis’ visit.

The venue has the capacity to hold over 3 million people, with the organisers expecting the men to stand and the women to sit.

The oval structure has wide terraces all covered with carpet grass that, just like we do here at home, was planted three weeks to the Pope’s arrival.

They were however, smart enough to plant carpet grass, which they sourced from Ugandan traders as it takes root fast and doesn’t take as much time to grow as our ‘Kidero grass’.

At the center of the structure is a man-made lake, which was drained so that its bed would be de-silted and leveled.

The lake is supplied by underground springs, which ensure it never dries up. In fact, according to our guide, the lake had fish before it was drained.

At one end of the amphitheater is an altar. This is where the Pope is expected to conduct mass from and address the worshipers.

To get to the altar, the Pope will walk on water, on top of a bridge that will be illuminated on the floor and on the sides with bulbs shaped like angels.

On either side of the altar are pavilions which sit about 3000 people each.

According to the organisers, cardinals and other clergy will sit in the altar with the Holy Father, VIPs will sit in one pavilion and the media and nuns will sit in the other.

The construction is expected to be complete by the 21^st of November, a few days before the Pope’s visit.

Impressively, no tree was felled to make way for the construction and expansion.

The designers worked around the trees that were present, even going as far as planting a few more.

With this much planning and anticipation, the Pope’s reception in Uganda is set to be one of a kind.

On the streets of Kampala houses are painted with messages welcoming the Pope, dozens of billboards are scattered throughout the central business district with messages of appreciation and welcome for the Pope with many stating that the country is blessed to have hosted three Popes.

The first pope to visit the country was Pope Paul VI who visited in 1969 followed by Pope John Paul II in 1993 and now Pope Francis who is expected to visit in a few days.