Official Papal visit logo unveiled

The Uganda Episcopal Conference has unveiled the official logo for Pope Francis’s visit to Uganda. Pope Francis will visit Uganda from 27th to 29th his month.

Gulu Archbishop John Baptist Odama, also the Chairman of Uganda Episcopal Conference unveiled the logo to the media in Kampala Tuesday.

 

The predominantly yellowish logo, yellow being the papal colour, is in a round shape against a background depicting the map of Uganda.

A ring around the logo has portraits of the 22 Ugandan catholic Martyrs while the two beatified martyrs Daudi Okello and Gildo Irwa, also known as the Martyrs of Paimol in northern Uganda are placed on the edge of the ring on both sides.

Archbishop Odama explained their placement on the sides to the fact that they have been beatified but not yet canonized.

The logo has the thematic inscription “You Will Be My Witnesses”. Other inscriptions are an image of Pope Francis against the backdrop of the Namugongo Catholic Shrine, atop of which is an elevated Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Archbishop Odama explained that the Eucharist, for Catholics, is a deep and revered matter of faith in which Jesus Christ changed bread into his body and wine into his blood which makes him ever present. He explained the features on the logo.

The official papal logo will adorn all official materials like souvenir, merchandise and literature.

The unveiling of the logo however comes at a time when many business people have already produced items with many unofficial logos and portraits of Pope Francis.

Secretary-General of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Dr. John B. Kauta said many business people went out of their way to make materials without seeking authorization. In some instances, the materials refer to the Pope as Francis I and also carry different papal visit dates.

Meanwhile the Government of Uganda says the country is now ready to receive the Pope for his three-day visit to Uganda.

Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, the Minister for General Duties, said infrastructure for the papal visit like the basilicas at Namugongo and Munyonyo, pavilion at the Namugongo Shrine are either ready by the time the Pope arrives.

Kabwegyere said an elaborate security system has been put in place, adding that vending will not be allowed in all the sites the Pope will visit.

He said all routes to Namugongo are reserved for pilgrims and prayers and not commerce, except for a designated place where vending will be allowed.

The minister, who also heads the cabinet committee on the papal visit, assured Ugandans of a successful Pope Francis visit and appealed to all Ugandans to support the preparation.

He said the economic benefits of the visit will be huge, considering that millions of people, both Ugandans and foreigners, will be in Kampala and will require accommodation, travel, food, souvenirs and much more.

Kabwegyere said the Uganda Tourism Board has also rolled out its publicity drive for religious as well as traditional tourism.