Tour the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda
What you need to know about the Polish catholic church in Uganda. As the saying goes, “You can never run away from your history”, the polish catholic church in Uganda remains significant to the Polish people and Ugandans as well. Located in Nyabyeya near Masindi town, the Polish catholic church is one place you should not miss on a Uganda safari. Polish refugees constructed this church from 1943 to 1945 toward the end of the Second World War.
The church is commonly called the Lady Queen of Poland Catholic Church in Uganda. Standing at Wanda Mountain in Masindi, the Polish Catholic Church is a historical reminder of the sad stories and how the Polish sought refuge in western Uganda. It has multiple words inscribed at the entrance and inside. These words speak to everyone who pays a visit to this church. Most importantly the words speak a lot to the Polish whose loved ones sought refuge in Uganda.
Why was the Polish Catholic Church constructed in Uganda?
The Polish Catholic Church in Uganda was constructed by refugees from Poland who lived in Uganda during World War II. It is believed that the majority of the group were women. A group of students from the Pedagogical University of Krakow renovated the church in 2010. The Polish Catholic Church in Uganda was constructed majorly as a dedication to the then Queen of Poland, named Blessed Virgin Mary. The words “Poloniae semper Fidelis” are inscribed at the entrance of this church. Many other words are written outside and inside the church as well. The words reflect Catholicism in Uganda a well as the memories of the Polish people who constructed this church. You will see the Polish Court of Arms at the church. The Polish refugee camp in Uganda was later closed in 1948.
The Polish Cemetery in Uganda (Masindi)
Once you have paid a visit to the Polish Catholic Church in Masindi, you should also look out for the Polish Cemetery. At this cemetery, you will witness over 40 gravestones by the church side. In this cemetery, you will read about the names of men, women, and children who were laid to rest in this place. There is no doubt that there are many people from Poland who have their ancestors buried in Uganda. This is enough evidence that memories of the Polish who died in Uganda will never fade away.
Before the Polish found themselves in Uganda, it was believed that only the weak men and women who could not serve in the army were sent out as refugees to different parts of the world. Some of them, before they found their way to Uganda, the Polish were held captive as prisoners of war in Siberia. Once they were free, they traveled to Mombasa by boat. From Mombasa, these Pols crossed from Kenya and scattered themselves throughout western Uganda. They occupied areas around Lake Kyoga, particularly the Masindi district.
Stanislaw Lula, one of the first poles to arrive in Uganda arrived in Uganda when he was sixteen years old one day stated, “Masindi is a large village built especially for the reception of Polish refugees… it was established in 1942 and consisted of eight villages connected. Our village was named Monkey Grove because it was neighboring the bush where a good number of monkeys dwelt.”
How to access the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda?
Are you from Poland or any other part of the world thinking about visiting the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda? We assume you start your journey from the Entebbe International Airport. Later on, you drive to Masindi via the Kampala – Bombo – Masindi Highway. From Masindi Town, you will drive for about 45 minutes and reach the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda. We highly recommend that you visit the church through a reputable tour operator in Uganda like Native Africa Tours. This will make life easier since our safari guides have vast knowledge about the church. Along the way, you will have learned something and by the time you arrive at the church, you will only be confirming facts.
What is the best time to visit the Polish Catholic Church?
The Polish Catholic Church in Uganda is an all-year-round safari destination. This implies that you can tour the place at any time of the year. Unless you want to combine the tour with other destinations in Uganda, visiting during the dry season would be ideal. The dry seasons in Uganda run from June to September and December to February.
Which other places can I tour alongside the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda?
Touring the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda can easily be combined with many other amazing safari destinations. These include among others but are not limited to the following;
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Located in Nakasongola near Masindi, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is an amazing place to stop at while visiting the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda. This sanctuary was established purposely to restore and conserve rhinoceros in Uganda. There is no doubt that magic species were on the verge of extinction before the establishment of the sanctuary. One of the amazing safari activities done here includes; rhino tracking, guided nature walks, and bird-watching tours. You may take part in any of these activities while visiting the Polish Catholic Church. From Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you will drive a few kilometers before you reach the Polish Catholic Church in Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park
Located a few kilometers from Masindi Town, Murchison Falls National Park is a reliable safari destination in Uganda. This is Uganda’s oldest and largest national park. After you have paid a visit to the Polish Catholic Church, you should consider taking a boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park. Several activities can be done in Murchison Falls National Park. These include; wildlife safari game drives, guided nature walks, birding tours, hiking to the top of the world’s strongest waterfalls, community tours, primate tracking, and many more. Engaging in any of these activities will allow you to create a signature of memories while you visit the Polish Catholic Church.
Conclusively, a tour of the Polish Catholic Church is one thing you should add to your safari destinations list. It entails learning about the history of the Polish refugee camp in Uganda. More so, the cemetery is of strong significance to the people of Poland since many of their ancestors were laid to rest in Uganda. Now that you have learned about such an amazing destination, why don’t you book your tour and create everlasting memories?
