On July 11, 2026, the Laudato Youth Initiative and its Laudato Si Club at Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S. hosted the Laudato Si’ Green Festival, which gathered thousands of Youth, Educators, Heads of Schools, Religious Leaders, and Community Members to Raise Awareness About Caring for Creation.
The event included several activities, among them the launch of the Bishop Martin Wamika Legacy Program, aimed at teaching young people good manners and the responsible use of the internet, inspired by the words of the late Bishop Charles Martin Wamika. Br. Adolf launched the program together with Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, joined by the Provincial, Fr. Caxton Peter Mayanja, C.S.C.; Hon. Salamu Musumba; the Headteacher, Fr. Prosper Atukwatse, C.S.C.; the Laudato Youth Initiative leaders; and other distinguished guests.
Uganda Martyrs Day 2023
The Uganda Episcopal Conference selected the Diocese of Jinja to lead the Uganda Martyrs Day 2023 event under the theme, “Lord, Increase Our Faith,” with Bishop Charles Martin Wamika serving as the main celebrant. In his homily, he directly addressed the young people, saying:
“The youth of today, you seem more affected by modern life: smartphones, internet; Empiisa Enungi (good manners) seem to have been thrown overboard. The majority of the Uganda Martyrs were youth like you. When you grow old, how about creating a website: www.empiisaenungi.com? Dear pilgrims, look around and take note. When you get back home, what is it that you will share about the Martyrs? May the Lord increase your faith so that you receive whatever you asked for today.”
This message inspired Br. Adolf to launch a youth program that would teach young people good manners and educate them on the responsible use of technology for the common good—a message that has also been emphasized by Pope Leo XIV in his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, released on 25 May 2026.
What the Bishop actually said was that smartphones and the internet are changing the lifestyle of young people in Uganda by increasing access to information, communication, and global culture. However, they also expose youth to moral and social challenges. Therefore, guided by the example of courage and faith shown by the Uganda Martyrs, together with the values of Catholic Social Teaching, young people should use digital technology responsibly in ways that protect human dignity, strengthen faith, and promote the common good within the African cultural context and its moral values that guide human actions.
Empiisa Enungi — “Good Manners” Have Been Thrown Overboard
In many communities in Uganda, Empiisa Enungi refers to virtues such as respect for elders, adherence to family and cultural norms, humility, honesty, responsibility, discipline, and care for others. These values were traditionally taught within families, communities, and religious institutions. Today, however, rapid social change, urbanization, and digital influences have made it easier for some young people to drift away from these moral foundations. Bishop Wamika’s message was therefore a call for the revival of these values, and that is precisely what the Bishop Martin Wamika Legacy Program seeks to achieve.
The day concluded with a series of activities, including tree planting, eco-innovation exhibitions, and youth talent showcases.
