Today is the 40th commemoration anniversary of former Church of Uganda Archbishop Janan Luwum, a public holiday that was first celebrated last year to commemorate his life.
In 2016, President Yoweri Museveni 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. Government has planned UGX200m budget to build pilgrimage arena and renovate his tomb in Kitgum.
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.
Luwum was killed during President Idi Amin’s reign on February 16, 1977.
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.
