Church House renamed after Janani Luwum
The head of Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire at the time, Archbishop Luwum was slain on February 16, 1977
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Dr Hannington Mutebi, the Kampala Diocese assistant bishop, who represented Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, said besides re-developing Luwum’s ancestral home, the Church House, which is under construction, has been renamed St Janani Luwum House. Lumum Street in Kampala city central business district was also named after the archbishop.
Kampala. The Anglican church has renamed Church House in Kampala as St Janani Luwum House to honour the martyred Church of Uganda prelate and his contribution to the growth of the faith and democratisation of Uganda.
This move comes barely a month before the Church marks the 40th anniversary of St Janani Luwum Day, commemorated every February 16 at his resting and birthplace in Mucwini Sub-county, Kitgum District.
While briefing the media on the anniversary plans, the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Ruhunda, who is also the co-chair of the organising committee, said Janani Luwum was an outstanding pillar in fighting dictatorship and impunity that led to his killing by President Idi Amin in 1977.
“His death acted as a spark that led to the overthrow of Amin and subsequent stabilisation of Uganda,’’ Dr Rugunda said.
He said government acknowledges Archbishop Luwum’s outstanding contribution both as a religious leader and as a nationalist and has accorded him a full national that is now recognised annually as St Janani Luwum Day.
Centre for tourism
Speaking at same event, Mr Olara Otunu, a former UN envoy and co-chair of the organising committee, said plans are underway to re-develop Mucwini into a tourist attraction that befits the stature of the late archbishop. Proposed are also plans to build a new church in the area, prayer arena, as well as putting up a statue the archbishop’s memory.
Mr Otunnu said on the commemoration day, the church will present a sense of the overall concept of the site , a master plan and its artistic impression. He said the church was waiting for designs before looking for the funds to kick-start the project.
Dr Hannington Mutebi, the Kampala Diocese assistant bishop, who represented Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, said besides re-developing Luwum’s ancestral home, the Church House, which is under construction, has been renamed St Janani Luwum House. Lumum Street in Kampala city central business district was also named after the archbishop.
Dr Mutebi also said a series of events have been lined up, beginning February 5, in the build-up to the main event on February 16.
The Shs690m budget events have to be financed by government, according to Fr Simon Lokodo, the Ethics and Integrity minister.
He said on the D-Day, processions from five city suburbs will later converge at St Paul Cathedral Namirembe for a service that will be presided over by Archbishop Ntagali, with Dr Rugunda as the chief guest.
