Editorial
Christians of St. John’s cathedral have joined the rest of Christians to commemorate Archbishop Janani Luwum ,a Church leader who died of advocating for justice of people in Uganda
Every 16 February Christians and the entire country at large commemorate Archbishop Janani Luwum who was killed in 1977 on orders of Idd Amini the then President of Uganda accusing him for speaking against him.
Janani Luwum was the third Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire.
While preaching to hundreds of Christians who turned up for the Arch Bishop’s memorial service at St. John’s cathedral in Fort portal city,the Bishop of Ruwenzori diocese Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo asked Christians to emulate the example of Archbishop Luwum and always stand on their truth.
Bishop Kisembo further condemned the violation of human beings in the country
especially current situation with the government on torturing members of the
opposition.
He also condemned the acts of economic injustice, greed, selfishness,mob justice, corruption, abuse of offices among others.
He asked them to always expose evil at places of work, homes, and churches among others.
ARCHBISHOP JANANI LUWUM PROFILE
Janani Luwum was born in 1922 in Mucwini, Chua, to Eliya Okello and Aireni Aciro. His father being a Christianity convert, Janani was sent to school and eventually became a schoolteacher.
In 1948 Janani devoted to Christianity and his conversion was so deep that he gave up teaching to join Church ministry full-time.
He became very active in the East African revival movement, and became a lay reader, then a deacon, and then a priest in 1956. He taught at Buwalasi Theological College and later became its Principal. In 1969 he was consecrated bishop of Northern Uganda.
Luwum was an Arch Bishop of Church Of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire (Eastern DR Congo) From 19774 -1977 and one of the most influential leaders o f modern church in Africa.
In 1976, tension between the Church and state worsened and Religious leaders led by Archbishop Luwum, jointly approached Idi Amin to share their concern about shooting of soldiers and Christians in Lango and Acholi regions. They were rebuffed. Nevertheless, Archbishop Luwum continued to attend Government functions.
The Archbishop called on President Amin to deliver a note of protest, signed by nearly all the bishops of Uganda, against the policies of arbitrary killings and the unexplained disappearances of many persons.
Amin accused the Archbishop of treason, produced a document supposedly by former President Obote attesting his guilt, and had the Archbishop and two Cabinet members (both committed Christians) arrested and held for military trial.
On 5th Feb, luwum’s home was raided ostensibly to search for hidden stows of weapons following a document produced by Amin signed by the previous president Obote that reportedly proved Arch Bishop Luwum guilty of hidden weapons
On 16th Of Feb 1977 Arch Bishop and 6 Bishops were tried on a charge of smuggling arms.
Arch Bishop was not allowed to respond but shook his head in denial. Amin asked what they would do with the traitors and his soldiers in response proposed for them to be killed.
Arch Bishop, 2 other cabinet members were taken away but were first allowed to pray with other 4 prisoners awaiting execution whom the arch Bishop told not to be afraid.
They were placed in a Land rover and never seen again.The official account reported a car crash but Public generally accepted that he was murdered on orders of the then President Idi-Amin folowing close check up of his body.
He was later buried on 20th Feb 1977 at st.Paul’s Namirembe and his tomb lies next to the grave of martyred Bishop James Hannington.
The assassination of Arch Bishop Janani Luwum is considered a turning point in Uganda’s history. A line had been crossed and Ugandans were awakened that Amin and his regime had to go.
