Kampala, 29 October, 2025 / 11:27 am (ACI Africa).
The National Director of the Devotion to St. Jude Thaddeus in Uganda has called on the Ugandan government to support the ongoing construction of the National Shrine of St. Jude, which he describes as both “a pastoral mission and a national project."
In his welcome remarks at Holy Mass for the 71st anniversary of the devotion to St. Jude Thaddeus in the East African nation on Tuesday, October 28, the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Fr. Joseph Mary Bbuye said that once completed, the National Shrine in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala will serve “not only as a religious landmark but also as an international symbol of peace, resilience, and faith-based diplomacy.”
He invited the government, through its relevant ministries and departments, to consider aligning with the Shrine’s development, ensuring that Naggulu Hill, where it is located, “becomes a well-organized spiritual and urban destination.”
“As the government implements its strategic plan for development, we see enormous potential for collaboration between the Church and the State in various ways, including partnerships in education, healthcare, youth skills training, and the promotion of faith-based tourism as a driver of social and economic growth,” said Fr. Bbuye.
The Ugandan-born Catholic Priest explained that the initiative, which has so far depended solely on local contributions and goodwill, has reached the roofing stage and is estimated to cost 7.5 billion Uganda shillings (US$ 2.15 million).
