Kotido District, Uganda – East Africa.

Hundreds of Christians on Tuesday turned up at Panyangara Catholic parish in Kotido district for the 21^st Anniversary of the killing of Fr. Declan O’Toole a Mill Hill Missionary and his two workers.

The Christians were drawn from the chapels that constitute Panyangara catholic parish in Kotido catholic diocese.

Fr. Declan the first missionary priest to work in the parish when it was created in 1998 was shot dead alongside his driver Patrick Longoli Dodoya and his cook Fidelis Longole at Kalosarich in 2002 while returning home from a peace meeting.

Annually Christians having been trekking to Kalosarich to pray for the parish martyrs at the site but due to insecurity only family members of the deceased went there this year.

Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu the Bishop of Kotido diocese who presided over the celebrations encouraged Christians and the families of the martyrs to keep praying for all the dead.

He also prayed for peace, unity, love, transparency and harmony amidst the people of Karamoja region saying they should stop shedding blood if peace is to prevail in the region.

Rev. Fr. Ignatius Nshing the moderator of Panyangara catholic parish says this is the day the Christians of Panyangara come together to pray for the departed souls who gave themselves to the hands of God.

Rena Ayen the sister to the late Patrick Longoli Dodoya encouraged all to remain strong in their faiths and keep praying for the departed brothers.

SOURCE: [ www.radioetoil.com, Story by JOSEPH LOGOLA, Original Publication ]