Security personnel on Wednesday turned away hundreds of Christians who wanted to access Wi-polo Martyr’s Shrine in Agago District to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa.
Annually, thousands of Christians throng Paimol Martyr’s shrine in Paimol Sub-county to celebrate the lives of the Acholi catechists who were killed for their Christian beliefs.
But on Wednesday morning, due to the covid-19 restrictions, several Christians within and outside Agago who turned for the annual Christian event were denied access to the venue.
It followed a directive issued by the Agago Resident District commissioner Suzan Akany on Tuesday suspending mass prayers at the shrine in a bid to fight the spread of covid-19.
More than 500 pilgrims had by Tuesday evening camped at the shrine to commemorate the martyrdom of Okello and Irwa.
Akany said that the mass congregation of the pilgrims would put many lives at risk of contracting covid-19 since the majority were not observing the covid-19 standard operating procedures.
Both the army and police were Wednesday deployed at the various entrances of the shrine to control the large numbers of Christians.
