Lira Diocese Paimol Pilgrims Grow to Over 800 as Martyrs’ Commemoration Nears

More than 800 foot pilgrims from Lira Diocese are traveling to the Paimol Martyrs Shrine in Agago District to commemorate the martyrdom of Saints Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa. The group grew from approximately 300 people at the start of the journey to over 800, according to Goddy Akio, the publicity secretary for the pilgrims.

The group is expected to reach the shrine between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm today, October 19, before the annual commemoration on October 20. On Monday morning, 16 soldiers from the Acolpii Army Barracks of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces joined the pilgrims to escort them on an eight-kilometer walk from Kokil Sub-county to Wipolo.