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- Aug 20, 2015
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Pope Francis has told the Uganda government the things he wants and does not want during his visit in Uganda in November.
Sources in the Catholic Church and in the Office of the Prime Minister have confirmed to this newspaper that the Vatican outlined the type of reception to be accorded to the Pontiff during his trip to Uganda between November 27 and 29.
The modalities are being discussed by the government and the Pope's representative in Uganda, the Papal Nuncio.
The sources said among the Vatican terms, is that during his visit in Uganda, the Pope will not use big 4x4 SUV vehicles for his mobility inside the country. The Pope prefers that he be given an "ordinary" car.
The Pope also informed the Uganda government that he will not sit with any other passenger in his car.
Also the Pope does not want to have any meeting with political leaders. He will only lead mass and engage in religious activities.
However, according to sources privy to the Vatican communication, the Pope will have a short meeting with President Museveni and only to discuss religious matters.
More terms
The Pope also told the government he will not stay in a hotel, but rather he and his entourage will sleep in a common place. The Pope and his entourage will also have a common time for their meals.
The Pope also said there would be no state banquet and that he will take care of his own accommodation.
It is not clear whether the Vatican will come with the Popemobile [an informal name for the specially designed motor vehicles used by the Catholic Pope during outdoor public appearances] or Uganda government will arrange one.
Pope Francis discarded the use of expensive Popemobiles used by previous Popes and has preferred to use ordinary ones.
In the Vatican, he uses a small modified Hyundai car. While on a visit to Sri Lanka, he used a modified Land Rover Defender and in Philippines, he used a modified Isuzu D-Max pickup.
In 1969, Pope Paul VI was driven to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine in an open Mercedes Benz car in which he sat with President Obote, while in 1993, Pope John Paul II was similarly driven to Namugongo in an open roof Mercedes Benz and he arrived in the same vehicle with President Museveni.
Sunday Monitor understands government has budgeted at least Shs60 billion for VIP cars of SUV and saloon type for the Pope's visit and use for other high profile foreign dignitaries thereafter.
By press time, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, also the chairman of the pontiff's visit organising committee, could not be reached for a comment as he did not pick or return our calls.
His communication adviser, Mr Julius Mucunguzi, said he was not privy to the conditions but indicated the premier is in "regular contact with the Church to ensure preparations are smooth and the visit is a memorable one."
Nonetheless he referred us to Dr Rugunda himself as the best person to talk to or the Papal Nuncio.
A secretary in Papal Nuncio Rev Michael Blume's office said he was very busy on other matters and was not in position to speak to the media at the moment.
Meanwhile, a fundraising gala at Hotel Africana on Friday for the Uganda Martyrs Shrine redevelopment in preparation for the Papal visit raised Shs175m.
The fundraising was graced by Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Dr Rugunda and retired Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala.
Several other dignitaries from business circles, politicians and Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) also attended.
Dr Rugunda said the pontiff's visit was of significance because "Uganda is going to be the focus of everyone around the world."
"The government is working closely with the church to ensure this historic visit becomes memorable," Dr Rugunda added. Pope Francis will become the third reigning Pope to set foot in Uganda.
Other African countries to have been visited by at least two reigning popes are Cameroon, Angola and Benin, all visited by popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
His visit is part of celebrations to mark 50 years since the Uganda martyrs were canonised in 1964.
Against this backdrop, the Catholic Church is currently in a process of redeveloping the Martyrs shrines in Namugongo and Munyonyo, which sites the pontiff is expected to visit.
The project is expected to cost Shs36 billion ($14 million) and several fundraisings have been held since last year.
Archbishop Lwanga, also the vice chairman of the organising committee for the Papal visit, said they had covered almost half of what is needed for the Namugongo site project.
He said the government recently gave about Shs20.4 billion to the Catholic Church as part of the compensation for church land that was given to Entebbe International Airport.
"But I urge you to continue contributing as much as you can for this purpose," he urged.
Former vice president Gilbert Bukenya said the Papal visit is coming at the right time when Uganda is going through a turbulent political situation.
However, he added: "When the Pope comes, we ask he prays for us (and for the country) so we can have a peaceful transition, so that we do not go back to picking guns and the guns can stay in the armouries."
The Pope apparently will come to Uganda after visiting Kenya. Kenya was not originally on the Pope's itinerary on this African journey, where he indicated he would visit Central African Republic and Uganda.
The Pope, however, later indicated that he was considering a visit to Kenya as well.
Source: Daily Monitor
Sources in the Catholic Church and in the Office of the Prime Minister have confirmed to this newspaper that the Vatican outlined the type of reception to be accorded to the Pontiff during his trip to Uganda between November 27 and 29.
The modalities are being discussed by the government and the Pope's representative in Uganda, the Papal Nuncio.
The sources said among the Vatican terms, is that during his visit in Uganda, the Pope will not use big 4x4 SUV vehicles for his mobility inside the country. The Pope prefers that he be given an "ordinary" car.
The Pope also informed the Uganda government that he will not sit with any other passenger in his car.
Also the Pope does not want to have any meeting with political leaders. He will only lead mass and engage in religious activities.
However, according to sources privy to the Vatican communication, the Pope will have a short meeting with President Museveni and only to discuss religious matters.
More terms
The Pope also told the government he will not stay in a hotel, but rather he and his entourage will sleep in a common place. The Pope and his entourage will also have a common time for their meals.
The Pope also said there would be no state banquet and that he will take care of his own accommodation.
It is not clear whether the Vatican will come with the Popemobile [an informal name for the specially designed motor vehicles used by the Catholic Pope during outdoor public appearances] or Uganda government will arrange one.
Pope Francis discarded the use of expensive Popemobiles used by previous Popes and has preferred to use ordinary ones.
In the Vatican, he uses a small modified Hyundai car. While on a visit to Sri Lanka, he used a modified Land Rover Defender and in Philippines, he used a modified Isuzu D-Max pickup.
In 1969, Pope Paul VI was driven to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine in an open Mercedes Benz car in which he sat with President Obote, while in 1993, Pope John Paul II was similarly driven to Namugongo in an open roof Mercedes Benz and he arrived in the same vehicle with President Museveni.
Sunday Monitor understands government has budgeted at least Shs60 billion for VIP cars of SUV and saloon type for the Pope's visit and use for other high profile foreign dignitaries thereafter.
By press time, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, also the chairman of the pontiff's visit organising committee, could not be reached for a comment as he did not pick or return our calls.
His communication adviser, Mr Julius Mucunguzi, said he was not privy to the conditions but indicated the premier is in "regular contact with the Church to ensure preparations are smooth and the visit is a memorable one."
Nonetheless he referred us to Dr Rugunda himself as the best person to talk to or the Papal Nuncio.
A secretary in Papal Nuncio Rev Michael Blume's office said he was very busy on other matters and was not in position to speak to the media at the moment.
Meanwhile, a fundraising gala at Hotel Africana on Friday for the Uganda Martyrs Shrine redevelopment in preparation for the Papal visit raised Shs175m.
The fundraising was graced by Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Dr Rugunda and retired Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala.
Several other dignitaries from business circles, politicians and Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) also attended.
Dr Rugunda said the pontiff's visit was of significance because "Uganda is going to be the focus of everyone around the world."
"The government is working closely with the church to ensure this historic visit becomes memorable," Dr Rugunda added. Pope Francis will become the third reigning Pope to set foot in Uganda.
Other African countries to have been visited by at least two reigning popes are Cameroon, Angola and Benin, all visited by popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
His visit is part of celebrations to mark 50 years since the Uganda martyrs were canonised in 1964.
Against this backdrop, the Catholic Church is currently in a process of redeveloping the Martyrs shrines in Namugongo and Munyonyo, which sites the pontiff is expected to visit.
The project is expected to cost Shs36 billion ($14 million) and several fundraisings have been held since last year.
Archbishop Lwanga, also the vice chairman of the organising committee for the Papal visit, said they had covered almost half of what is needed for the Namugongo site project.
He said the government recently gave about Shs20.4 billion to the Catholic Church as part of the compensation for church land that was given to Entebbe International Airport.
"But I urge you to continue contributing as much as you can for this purpose," he urged.
Former vice president Gilbert Bukenya said the Papal visit is coming at the right time when Uganda is going through a turbulent political situation.
However, he added: "When the Pope comes, we ask he prays for us (and for the country) so we can have a peaceful transition, so that we do not go back to picking guns and the guns can stay in the armouries."
The Pope apparently will come to Uganda after visiting Kenya. Kenya was not originally on the Pope's itinerary on this African journey, where he indicated he would visit Central African Republic and Uganda.
The Pope, however, later indicated that he was considering a visit to Kenya as well.
Source: Daily Monitor