Pakwach, Uganda: Thousands of Catholic faithful from northern Uganda and neighbouring DR Congo gathered at the Omach pilgrimage site in Pakwach Catholic Parish on Friday, March 6, 2026, to commemorate the 116th annual Ganal Pilgrimage with a renewed call for reconciliation, repentance, and spiritual renewal.
The sacred pilgrimage, organised under the Gulu Ecclesiastical Province, brought together believers from the dioceses of Nebbi, Arua, Lira, and the Gulu Archdiocese to honour the arrival of Catholic missionaries in the region around 1910.
Pilgrims travelled from different parts of northern Uganda and across the border from DR Congo to the historic Omach site, reflecting on the foundations of the Catholic faith in the region and renewing their commitment to Christian teachings.
Presiding over the pilgrimage as the main celebrant, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, Bishop of Lira Diocese, delivered a homily urging the faithful to repair broken relationships and embrace God’s mercy through genuine repentance.
“Our pilgrimage to Omach here should make us heal relationships; that is the meaning of this pilgrimage,” Bishop Wanok said, calling on believers to turn away from sin and live in harmony with one another as true disciples of Christ.
This year’s pilgrimage was animated by Uleppi Deanery and held under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope, Nourished by the Living Bread,” drawn from the Gospel of John 6:51 which proclaims: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
The celebration drew senior Catholic leaders from across northern Uganda including His Grace Raphael P’omony Wokorach, Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese; Rt. Rev. Dr. Constantine Rupiny, Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese; Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki, Bishop of Arua Catholic Diocese; Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama; and Bishop Emeritus Giuseppe Franzeli of Lira Diocese.
Hon. Catherine Akumu Mavenjina, Member of Parliament for Older Persons in Northern Uganda and Chairperson of the Laity for the Ganal Pilgrimage in the diaspora, commended the pilgrims for their dedication and sacrifice.
She described the gathering as a “historic day of grace” and praised the faithful for keeping alive a tradition that strengthens faith and unity across the region.
Several pilgrims shared reflections on the message delivered during the pilgrimage.
Omony Gilbert from Lira Diocese said the call for reconciliation was particularly timely. “The preaching was all about reconciliation, and I think it is timely given the tense political period we have just been in; there is still a lot of hatred amongst believers,” he said.
Joyce Ayerango from Nyapea Deanery said the message of hope resonated strongly with many pilgrims, while a 14-year-old pilgrim from Angal Deanery described the pilgrimage as a deeply moving experience that is preparing him spiritually for the upcoming Uganda Martyrs pilgrimage at Namugongo in June.
The annual Omach pilgrimage traces its origins to the early evangelisation of the West Nile region in 1910 when Catholic missionaries first arrived and were welcomed by local leader Chief Omach at Pakuba along the Albert Nile.
The missionaries later established their first mission foothold at Omach, laying the foundation for the spread of Catholicism across what is now Nebbi Diocese and the wider northern Uganda region despite early challenges such as disease and harsh environmental conditions.
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