Mary Luwum was a 'faithful witness to her Lord'

Aug 07, 2019

"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," says Archbishop Stanley Ntagali.

DEATH

KAMPALA - Archbishop Stanley Ntagali has described the late Mary Luwum as one whose testimony inspired many people and will live on.

The wife of former Archbishop of Uganda Janani Luwum died Tuesday, 42 years after her husband's death. A statement by the Church of Uganda says she died aged 93, survived by six children and grandchildren.

"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," reads the statement in part.

She breathed her last at 3pm at International Hospital Kampala (IHK), after a "courageous battle with cancer of the gallbladder".

She outlived her husband, who died at the age of 55.

"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," Ntagali is quoted as saying.

The Church of Uganda says she will be remembered as not being ashamed of the Gospel and as one who "supported her husband's decision to not flee Uganda when threatened by then President Idi Amin".

"That decision ultimately led to his martyrdom on February 16, 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 recently dedicated Janani Luwum Church House commercial building on Kampala Road in Kampala to her husband.

"They shared a common vision for a self-sustaining and spiritually vibrant church."

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

 

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

Meanwhile, burial arrangements are underway and, according to the family and Church of Uganda, will be communicated in due course.

Mary Luwum, who was an orphan living with a relative in Mican in Kitgum district, and met her future husband Janani 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.

 

 

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