Church mourns Mary Luwum

Mary Luwum

The Church of Uganda has regret at the passing on of the widow to former archbishop Janani Luwum.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the archbishop Stanley Ntagali described Mary Luwum as a great pillar in the church who stood firm even when the family faced persecution.

Mary Luwum, who was an orphan living with a relative in Mican in Kitgum district, met Janan when he was a primary school teacher at Kitgum Primary School in 1947.

together, they had nine children among them Ben Luwum, Jollie Luwum Adriko, Irene Luwum Ocaya, Andrew Luwum, Phoebe Aber Luwum, and Amos Luwum

Full statement: 
With deep regret, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali has announced the death of Mama Mary Luwum, the wife of Church of Uganda's martyred Archbishop Janani Luwum.

Mama Mary Luwum died at 3:00pm on Tuesday, at International Hospital Kampala (IHK), following a courageous battle with cancer of the gallbladder. She was 93 years old and is survived by six children and many grandchildren.

Archbishop Ntagali said, "Mama Mary has been a faithful witness to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ for many years. Like her husband, her testimony has inspired many and will live on. We commend her to her Lord and pray for their family and all who grieve her passing."

 President Yoweri Museveni greeting Mary Luwum during the memorial service for her husband in Kitgum in 2015

Mama Mary Luwum will be remembered as not being ashamed of the Gospel. She supported her husband's decision to not flee Uganda when threatened by then President Idi Amin. That decision ultimately led to his martyrdom on 16^th February 1977.  In the 42 years following her husband's assassination, she continued to dedicate her life to preaching the Gospel and supporting the social-economic growth of the Church of Uganda.

The Church of Uganda's recently dedicated Janani Luwum Church House commercial building on Kampala Road in Kampala is named after her husband. They shared a common vision for a self-sustaining and spiritually vibrant church.

In 2015 His Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, declared 16^th February to be a public holiday in memory of Archbishop Janani Luwum's martyrdom and his faithful and sacrificial service to the church and the country.

Burial arrangements are underway and will be communicated in due course.