Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L.H.D (Hon.) Updated at 1729 EAT on Monday 17th February 2026.

Uganda continues to honor the life and sacrifice of Archbishop Janani Jakaliya Luwum, a towering figure in the country’s religious history and one of Africa’s most influential modern church leaders.

Archbishop Luwum served as head of the Church of Uganda from 1974 until 1977. A fearless cleric, he became a leading voice against human rights abuses during the regime of then-President Idi Amin, who seized power in 1971.

Early Life and Ministry

Born in 1922 in the village of Mucwini in Kitgum District to Acholi parents, Luwum began his career as a teacher after studying at Gulu High School and Boroboro Teacher Training College. He converted to Christianity in 1948 and later enrolled at Buwalasi Theological College in 1949.

Ordained deacon in 1953 and priest in 1954, Luwum served in various dioceses across Uganda, including Upper Nile and Mbale. In 1969, he was consecrated Bishop of Northern Uganda. Five years later, he was appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga (in Zaire), becoming the second African to hold the position.

Arrest and Death

By the mid-1970s, Archbishop Luwum had emerged as a prominent critic of the excesses of Amin’s government, particularly arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances. In February 1977, he delivered a formal protest to Amin addressing these concerns.

On 16 February 1977, Luwum was arrested alongside cabinet ministers Erinayo Wilson Oryema and Charles Oboth Ofumbi. The trio was publicly accused of treason and plotting a coup, including alleged links to former President Milton Obote.

The following day, Radio Uganda announced that the three had died in a car crash while being transported for interrogation. However, when Luwum’s body was released to his family, it bore multiple bullet wounds. Later accounts from former government officials and witnesses indicated that the archbishop and his colleagues had been executed.

His death sent shockwaves across Uganda and the international community, cementing his place as a martyr in the struggle for justice and human dignity.

Enduring Legacy

Archbishop Luwum is survived by his widow, Mary Lawinyo Luwum, and nine children. He was laid to rest in his home village of Mucwini in Kitgum District.

Recognized as a martyr by the worldwide Anglican Communion, his statue stands among the Twentieth Century Martyrs at Westminster Abbey in London. He is also commemorated in the liturgical calendars of several Anglican provinces across the globe.

Since 2015, Uganda has observed 16 February annually as Archbishop Janani Luwum Day, a public holiday dedicated to celebrating his life, faith, and unwavering stand for truth and justice.

Nearly five decades after his death, Archbishop Luwum remains a symbol of courage, moral conviction, and spiritual leadership in Uganda and beyond.