Church of Uganda releases roadmap for Janan Luwum day

The Church of Uganda (COU) has released a roadmap for the commemorative celebrations of the late Archbishop Janan Luwum day, which will be held in his Village in Mucwini, Kitgum district.

The road map was released on Saturday by the organizing committee at Namirembe Cathedral.

In 2016, the president gazetted February 16, as a public holiday in recognition of the archbishop. Born in 1924, in Mucwini, North of Kitgum district, Luwum grew up within the precinct of the church.

He served in various positions, rising through the ranks to become Uganda's third COU Archbishop. The other archbishops before him were, Dr. Lesley Brown and His Grace Erica Sabiiti.

One of the remarkable positions he served was being a provincial secretary of the then big COU of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo Zaire.

While at the helm of the church, Luwum became openly critical of the excesses of the late president Idi Amin regime in the 70s. He protested against arbitrary killings and unexplained disappearances.

He was accused of treason and on February 16, he was arrested together with two cabinet ministers, Erinayo Oryema and Charles Oboth Ofumbi. His lifeless body was later discovered.

Government claimed that he met his death in a car accident something which many people doubt and believe Amin killed him.

Speaking at the COU headquarters, Rev. Can. Amos Magezi said that the celebrations are starting on Sunday, February 5, with a thanksgiving service at Namirembe cathedral to commemorate the 40 years of the martyrdom of Luwum.

"He was a great leader of the church and someone who had impact on the society in Uganda. We are here to celebrate his life," he said.

He said that there will be processions, coming from different parts of Kampala. Five centers where people will converge early in the morning and then proceed on foot to the church, have been identified.

They include, All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, St. Francis Chapel Makerere, Mengo Archdeaconry headquarters in Makindye, Nansana COU and Mackay COU in Nateete.

Magezi, who is also the provincial secretary, said that the processions will be led by a brass band and a choir team to the Cathedral for the 10am service.

He said that they have prepared speakers who will give a talk on the ministry and life of Luwum. This is intended to help the public to know what exactly happened 40yrs ago. After the talk, the word of God will also be preached to the Christians.

The guest of honor will be Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda.

The service will be a kick off of many other events that will climax on February 16 at Mucwini where Luwum was laid to rest.

At Mucwini, the service will be preceded by a procession from the nearby towns. The chief celebrant will be the archbishop Stanley Ntagali while the president will be the guest of honor.

 

Two bishops from the United Kingdom are expected to grace the event. The Bishop of Bristol will represent the Archbishop of Canterbury and the retired Bishop of Rochester will be the memorial preacher.

Pilgrims are expected from Kenya, Burundi, Sudan and Congo. Some have already started arriving. They will hold an overnight prayer session on February 15.

Justice James Ogoola, a co-chair of the organizing committee said that when the archbishop of Canterbury visited Uganda in 2013, he planted a unity tree at the protestant Martyrs shrine in Munyonyo.

Therefore, they are going to carry its seeds and plant it in Mucwini during the celebrations and also at Payimo shrine were its believed two catholic martyrs were killed.

The Bishop of Bristol will also pay pilgrimage to Bishop James Hannington shrine in Budimo, Busia district after the Mucwini celebrations.

Though there is no theme to guide the celebrations, Magezi said that they will reflect on the 40 years of martyrdom of Luwum.

Olara Otunnu, co-chair organizing committee, described Luwum as a man with unbelievable humility and simplicity.

"He was a man of simple uncomplicated integrity even in the world where materialism rules. He was oblivious to the temptations of materialism. His faith informed everything he did and that is why in the end he remained faithful until death," he said.