Janani Jakaliya Luwumwasarchbishopof theChurch of Ugandafrom 1974 to 1977 and one of the most influential leaders of the modern church in Africa. He was arrested in February 1977 and died shortly after. Although the official account describes a car crash, it is generally accepted that he was murdered on the orders of then-PresidentIdi Amin.
Janani Luwum | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of theChurch of Uganda Primate of theAnglican Churchin Uganda | |
 | |
| Church | Anglican Communion |
| See | Kampala |
| In office | 1974–1977 |
| Predecessor | Erica Sabiti |
| Successor | Silvanus Wani |
| Previous post(s) | Anglican Church Province of northern Uganda, Archbishop of the Metropolitan Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire Bishop |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1953 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1922 |
| Died | 16 February 1977 (aged 55) Kampala,Second Republic of Uganda |
| Spouse | Mary Luwum (died 2019 at 93 years) |
Since 2015 Uganda has a public holiday on 16 February, to celebrate the life of Janani Luwum.[1][2]
Early life
editLuwum was born in the village of Mucwini in theKitgum DistricttoAcholiparents. He attended Gulu High School and Boroboro Teacher Training College, after which he taught at a primary school. Luwum converted to Christianity in 1948, and in 1949 he went toBuwalasi Theological College.[3]
Career
editIn 1950 he was attached to St. Philip's Church inGulu.He wasordainedadeaconin 1953, and the following year he was ordained a priest. He served in the Upper NileDioceseof Uganda and later in the Diocese ofMbale.In 1969 he wasconsecratedBishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda at Gulu. After five years he was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan Province of Uganda,Rwanda,Burundi,and Boga (inZaire), becoming the second African to hold this position.[4]
Arrest and death
edit
Archbishop Luwum was a leading voice in criticising the excesses of the Idi Amin regime that assumed power in 1971.[5]In 1977, Archbishop Luwum delivered a note of protest to dictator Idi Amin against the policies of arbitrary killings and unexplained disappearances.[6]Shortly afterwards the archbishop and other leading churchmen were accused oftreason.
On 16 February 1977, Luwum was arrested together with two cabinet ministers,Erinayo Wilson OryemaandCharles Oboth Ofumbi.The same day Idi Amin convened a rally inKampalawith the three accused present. A few other "suspects" were paraded forth to read out "confessions" implicating the three men. The archbishop was accused of being an agent of the exiled former presidentMilton Obote,and for planning to stage a coup. The next day,Radio Ugandaannounced that the three had been killed when the car transporting them to an interrogation centre had collided with another vehicle. The accident,Radio Ugandareported, had occurred when the victims had tried to overpower the driver in an attempt to escape.[7]When Luwum's body was released to his relatives, it was riddled with bullets.Henry Kyemba,minister of health in Amin's government, later wrote in his bookA State of Blood,that "The bodies were bullet-riddled. The archbishop had been shot through the mouth and at least three bullets in the chest. The ministers had been shot in a similar way but one only in the chest and not through the mouth. Oryema had a bullet wound through the leg."[8]
According to the later testimony of witnesses, the victims had been taken to an army barracks, where they were bullied, beaten and finally shot.Timemagazine said "Some reports even had it that Amin himself had pulled the trigger, but Amin angrily denied the charge, and there were no first-hand witnesses".[9]According toVice President of UgandaMustafa Adrisi[10]and aHuman rights commission,Amin's right-hand manIsaac Maliyamungucarried out the murder of Luwum and his colleagues.[11]
Legacy
editJanani Luwum was survived by his widow, Mary Lawinyo Luwum and nine children. He was buried at his home village of Mucwini in theKitgum District.[12]Archbishop Luwum is recognized as amartyrby theAnglican Communionand his statue is among the Twentieth Century Martyrs on the front ofWestminster Abbeyin London.[13]He is honored on the liturgical calendars of theAnglican Church of Australia,Anglican Church of Canada,Scottish Episcopal Church,andChurch in Waleson 3 June.[14]He is honored on the liturgical calendars of theAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia,Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil,Church of Englandand theEpiscopal Church of the United Stateson 17 February.[15]
Archbishop Janani Luwum Day
editArchbishop Janani Luwum Dayis a public holiday inUganda,celebrated 16 February annually. The holiday is dedicated to the life and service of Janani Luwum, the formerarchbishopof theAnglicanChurch of Uganda,who is typically regarded as having been murdered on the orders of the then-PresidentIdi Amin.[16]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^"Why Uganda declared February 16 Archbishop Janani Luwum Public Holiday".
- ^"Archbishop Janani Luwum Day in Uganda in 2023".Office Holidays.Retrieved4 September2022.
- ^"Remembering the life of martyr Janani Luwum".Monitor.16 February 2023.Retrieved25 May2024.
- ^Gordon Landreth,Heroes – Janani LuwumArchived16 May 2008 at theWayback Machine
- ^Emuron, Emmy (16 February 2021)."Archbishop Luwum death & why such history keeps visiting us".The Observer - Uganda.Retrieved4 September2022.
- ^"Leaders Silent About Torture at Arch. Janani Luwum Commemoration".Uganda Radionetwork.Retrieved4 September2022.
- ^"Death of an Archbishop",Time Magazine,28 February 1977
- ^A state of blood: The inside story of Idi Amin(1977) Henry Kyemba
- ^Amin:The Wild Man of Africa,Time Magazine,7 March 1977
- ^Moses Walubiri; Richard Drasimaku (14 May 2014)."Mustafa Adrisi: Life during and after exile".New Vision.Retrieved18 December2018.
- ^Watuwa Timbiti (12 February 2015)."Luwum murder: What witnesses said".New Vision.Retrieved18 December2018.
- ^"I am glad the day my husband was killed is public holiday - Mary Luwum".Monitor.5 January 2021.Retrieved25 May2024.
- ^"Archbishop Janani Luwum, a martyr of hope and healing".Monitor.16 February 2021.Retrieved25 May2024.
- ^Calendar and Lectionary - The Scottish Episcopal Church
- ^"Janani Luwum, Archbishop and Martyr, 1977".The Episcopal Church.Retrieved21 July2022.
- ^"Archbishop Janani Luwum Day 2025 and 2026 in Uganda".PublicHolidays.africa.Retrieved25 May2024.
External links
edit- The Greatest Ugandan Ever! Part 2
- Janani Luwum – biographical sketchfrom collection: Biographical sketches of memorable Christians of the past, by James Kiefer
- "Not even an archbishop was spared",The Weekly Observer,16 February 2006 (N.B. Link destination requires video software installation)
- The Archbishop Janani Luwum Trust UK
- list of past Archbishops of the Church of Uganda