By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Government has been asked to use celebrations to commemorate Bishop Janan Luwum Day to fight against human rights violations and other immoralities in the country.
This call has been made by Sharon Oyat Arach, the Uganda People’s Congress party spokesperson while addressing journalists at Uganda House Kampala on Wednesday.
February 16, was designated to commemorate the life of Bishop Janan Luwum who was shot dead by the dictatorial military regime of Field Marshal, Chancellor Iddi Amin Dada in 1977.
Janani Luwum was the 2nd Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire from 1974 to 1977. He was passionate and vocal about the fight against human rights abuses, unjustified killings, and unexplained abductions.
The outspoken and devoted man of God is known for his boldness and encouraging others people to speak for themselves against the oppression cause by the then President Iddi Amin.
According to the UPC, Uganda is still faced with the some kind of oppressions which the celebrated Bishop fought against calling upon the government to keep Ugandans through the right path enlightened by the death of Janani Luwum.
“It is against that background that UPC calls upon the people of Uganda to emulate the late Archbishop and fight for the protection of human rights against any kind of immoral and violence acts ranging from homosexuality, abductions and ongoing unlawfulness in the country.”
Background
Archbishop Luwum was a leading figure in the criticism of the excesses of the Idi Amin regime. In 1977 Archbishop Luwum delivered a note to Idi Amin, protesting against the policies of unjustified killings and unexplained disappearances.
On 16 February 1977, Luwum and two cabinet ministers were arrested and accused of treason and planning a coup. It was then announced that all three were killed in a car crash, caused by the victims trying to overpower the driver.
When the body of Luwum was released to his family, the cause of death by gunshots was obvious.
Archbishop Luwum is recognised as a martyr by the Church of England. His statue is among the Twentieth Century Martyrs on the front facade of Westminster Abbey in London.
A public holiday to commemorate his death was proposed in 2015 and was observed for the first time on 16 February 2016.
This year’s national celebration of the Bishop Janan Luwum Day are scheduled to take place on Thursday16th February, 2023 under the theme; “United for service and growth”, adopted from the book of Ephesians.4:11-16.
