I recently had the honour of visiting one of the victims and survivors of the regime and security forces brutality that claimed close to 100 lives in November 2020 ahead of a mere election in a country that prides itself to be democratic and peaceful. It is not every day that someone will survive with a stray bullet through their chest, surgery, miscarriage of triplets (at 5 months). It’s not every day that someone will peacefully live with such a traumatic experience! As we sat and talked, perhaps comforted by the fact that she was sharing her story with a Clergyman, her voice struggled when she got the miscarriage part. I too held back my tears, because I didn’t want to make it harder. Her husband narrated their hospital ordeal, and what they considered lies by Government. “Eno ensi, temuli bwenkanya.” Literally saying, “There is no Justice in this country”. Living the 21st-century one would imagine that the things that we are witnessing today, good (in this case, Justice) or bad (in this case Injustice), may have been imagined by our predecessors, perhaps some living with us, though in their evenings. In fact, some may have worked against the possibility of the bad while giving themselves for the possibility of the good. They lived in a moral world. Do we live in an immoral/amoral one?

I was taken back into history, because just recently we were commemorating the 44th Janani Luwum Day. Not Iddi Amin Day! One murdered the other. The latter dying centuries later in exile. Imagine with me if you will, that about five decades ago the situation seemed like what is described above. There was no hope for justice in this country. There were “legitimate and rational” reasons to think so. But not for the Abp. Janani Luwum. As years went by his convictions grew stronger and the burden for his people and nation could not be held just in his heart. He could not keep to his prayer closet. He couldn’t separate the gospel message of evangelism from that of justice because they both converged at the cross in the person of Christ. Both evangelism and justice belong to the gospel package that we carry in witness to the world. Abp. Janani Luwum was a true witness of the Gospel. That’s why we remember him, as is it has been suggested, that martyrdom is the highest mark of true witness. When one is willing to die for what they claim to live for. What did Janani imagine about the future of his country that made him trade dear life? What does he see of his country right now? Or do we presume that almost half a century later, the future is not yet? Maybe.

We can build and hold memorials in his name; name streets, gazette a national public holiday (16th February) where we sing songs, eat food, and even share allowances! All in the name of celebrating his name – St. Janani Luwum. But as long as in all we do there is no commitment to what he lived for, stood and died for, we are simply dancing on his grave. If not killing him twice.

This year’s memorial was said to be “Scientific”, and was held at the state house in
Entebbe. Reason? Same as to why a good percentage of our rural teenagers may never go to school gain, since many of them have now become parents – apparently, COVID! As we watched the event on TV and others online, speaker after another thanked the “king” for graciously hosting the memorial at his Palace (which of course is our Statehouse, but that’s besides the point). At first I had the same sentiments as a friend who asked, “Why not at All Saints or Namirembe cathedral?”

But I later realized that God couldn’t let it happen even in Mucwiinyi, because there is no way the
God that I know, the God of Justice, who sees the tears of many mothers and fathers, siblings and
loved ones, in public and private – many graves (some still fresh), while others still in hospital with
grave injuries never to be the same again – some in prison; and others missing with no explanation from the security forces; that God that I know would not allow that memorial to happen in a place that he has consecrated for worship. Else the mockery of his name and dancing on the grave of his Saint by shameless group leaders as was in Daniel 5. A discussion for another day.

The Jesus that was seen picking up the scroll of Isaiah in Luke 4:18-19, is the same Jesus
we see boldly heading to Calvary to fulfil that which he believed the Father asking him to do. It is
also said of Janani Luwum, that after his conversion that was preceded by the fire of the East
African Revival, he made a commitment to give himself, even if it meant death, for his people. As
Jesus did for the Church.1 He ended up being martyred for standing up for the cause of the
oppressed and being a voice for the voiceless in what is believed (until recently) to be our history’s most tyrant and bloodiest regimes. He may not have seen justice in his days, but he strongly believed in it. Thank God his memorial was at State House.

From observation, you should have noted the following, on which I will also offer some thoughts;

1. The Cabinet sat and decided how and where the day (St. Janani Luwum Day) would be run.
The president being head of Cabinet, his position and preference becomes cabinet position.
Including, and especially the venue. That even gazetting the day itself 16th February (the day
on which former Archbishop Janani Luwum is believed to have been murdered by former
President Iddi Amin) was the king’s gift to the COU, and the nation. But mainly to the COU
– for obvious purposes that his regime has lived to reap. Because definitely he’s clearly not
interested in what Janani Luwum lived for, stood and died for. And as it seems, neither is/was
the church. 

How come the COU never sought it until statesmen like Olara Otunu et al demanded it for
their kin! Because it was then that the king granted and gazetted it, having seen the political
leverage that would come with it over the years. If Feb. 16th is a major event in the COU
calendar year that pilgrims who share in Janani’s convictions take seriously, and annually
prepare to go to Mucwiinyi. Why was the church (COU) not at the helm of organizing and
hosting? Given the times, COVID being the grand excuse, holding the memorial elsewhere
would mean COU leading the way and struggling to find funding for it. But holding it at State
House ……. Your guess is as good as my being male. Dead on!

Unless for sure, this was the whole reason for strategically giving in to the king’s wish to host the Memorial at his palace, while denying thousands of Janani Luwum’s kin and Christians the opportunity to gather and celebrate a shepherd that fed them and died advocating for them. Even in the midst of a pandemic like COVID, justice is important to people, and so are their justice heroes like Luwum.

2. Yes, Abp. Janani Luwum was a great teacher, shepherd, lover of peace, who worked for justice; loved and empowered the youth; was a man of great and practical faith, humble but firm, extremely passionate about the Gospel ……. But the monster President Iddi Amin killed an innocent man. No genuine zooming in on the current state of affairs, to see whether if Janani was alive under Museveni, (as Archbishop or not), that he would just resign and watch on like many of us have done. Apparently praying and keeping peace. Or he would give his life again for the oppressed and voiceless, and literally die doing it as he did before in the days of Amin the tyrant. Or do we presume that over four decades later, now one can find justice in this country. Therefore St. Janani Luwum can rest in peace.

But then, why was there no particular direction and course of action to commit to that the major stakeholders and duty bearers (the President, chief justice, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Heads of Security agencies, Religious Leaders, Members of Parliament, Law Society, could append signatures to? So that someday we can hold them accountable. Does it surprise us that less than 24 hours later, the security forces were out brutalizing unarmed professional journalists who were on duty, right on the premises of the United Nations Human Right Council? In his short reflection on the events leading to Janani Luwum’s death, the Rev. Can. Dr. Amos Kasibante writes that in 1977, Janani handed himself to Amin when he personally delivered a letter from the house of Bishops in which the Bishops called upon Idi Amin to resign, as the situation had gotten out of control. The letter also mentioned that “the gun which was pointed at the Archbishop is the same gun that is pointed at every Ugandan”. Didn’t the current house of bishops have any national concerns to present before the king on such a day? At least in memory of St. Janani Luwum. Did we attempt anything to emulate him? To what end is the commemoration of the Janani Luwum day, if it’s not focused on restoring access to justice and dignity for each Ugandan!

3. Speaker after speaker congratulated President Museveni (still serving a term) for winning the recent election. Technically though, the one serving and the one who contested a different, the latter being Mr. (Gen.) Tibuhaburwa. Whose apparent victory is being contested in the courts of law, highly on the grounds of injustices, oppression of opponents and their supporters, electoral malpractices, among others (as was in 2001, 2006, and 2016). Hence, apart from publicly announcing that they voted for him, and perhaps endorse him before the Judiciary (which was ably represented in the person of the Chief Justice himself, also head of the Supreme Court bench who has refused to excuse himself from the petition on grounds of conflict of interest – having served under the NRM party and defended President Museveni against Besigye’s), the congratulations were out of order. And I hope to be corrected if I am wrong. However, one would imagine that since congratulatory messages were not forthcoming, hosting such a function at the king’s palace was a great set up for the king

If indeed it was a St. Janan Luwum Day, why weren’t there black cassocks, or banners outlining the values that he lived, stood and died for? No mourning for lives lost in the Nov. 2020 shootings and subsequent election-related brutality/violence. No moment to reflect on the real circumstances around Luwum’s death, and perhaps a scoreboard to check our score against Luwum 44 years on! Was this intentional? Because these may have displeased the king! But what if COU hosted at Mucwiinyi, Namirembe, or All Saints, would it dare any?!

4. As at all state functions, many grabbed the opportunity to bring praises to the king for the mighty works here is done, “especially for the church”. No better timing and place as before a king who is in victory mood at his palace. O king we don’t know where we would have been without you. From the martyrs Memorial in Namugongo, to church house on Kampala Road; saving (manya securing/ oba forcefully taking) the Ndeeba from a one Dodoviko and his “friends” … to mention but a few. The king listened and watched on, perhaps proudly saying his heart and mind, “No worries, I know you are very needy. After all you pay back with loyalty.” Believe me will pay more at time “T”. Of course, with thanksgiving often comes begging for more. “Dear king, (manya your Excellency), …” went one subject. “You pledged to help us with the Memorial Site project back in Mucwiinyi. And you know for us we always plan these projects without money, but hoping that God will provide through you. Please would you allow us (with a small team) to meet with you at a convenient time in March so that we can show you the plans and details. So that you can support us. Thank you.”

One wonders why we still find financial requests more important than demands for Justice and healing in a wounded and bleeding nation! The king should be compelled more towards facilitating justice rather funding projects. In fact, instead of preparing to beg from the king at the next memorial, why not set up a St. Janani Luwum Fund/Trust that is under the COU Secretariat in partnership with the Ministry of Justice (Government). Why? Why not?

Why was there no document presented the king (Government) containing concerns of injustices, oppressions, bloodshed, arrests and imprisonments of innocents, disappearances, with names, perhaps even bringing one of the mothers who was recently crying out to the king for her children (so that he can see face-to-face the urgency to do something)? Or, advocate for a month focused on Justice (after all it is in February that the Law Year), where for example; the entire Justice Law and Order Sector leads the nation in making a recommitment to ensuring justice for all. We could start with making sure the pending cases of those on remand are given priority attention.

5. Of course that is not to say that there was nothing good at all that happened on the day. Kudos to Rt. Rev. Prof. Alfred Olwa who preached God’s word and dared to say a few uncomfortable things. It would have helped to emphaise the role of the East African Revival in the formation and shaping of Luwum’s conviction. Thus a strong appeal for spiritual revival remain more important than setting up monuments and remembering a names and a few life lessons.

6. Then came Pastor Gen. Tibuhaburwa to crown the day! Remember he is dad to a one Pr. Patience M. Rwabogo. Having been baptized in the church, and became president of Scripture Union in the early 1960s, he felt the right to treat his guests to melodious tunes of his biblical Eisegesis (where one brings their own ideas to a text). O the subjects enjoyed it. He made them laugh. I remember some online comments endorsing him for also having a “nice side”to him. Surely everyone has that. People say Amin made jokes that cracked people’s ribs. Well, as for this particular time, given the situation in the country, I wondered whether Janani would have felt entertained! But I may be reading too much into too small a matter.

Weeks before this, a group of pastors led by Robert Kayanja went to State house and congratulated the same Gen. Tibuhaburwa for apparently winning the January 14th Presidential election, and claimed that it was the most peaceful in the history of Uganda. And they probably anticipate peaceful transition of power from Museveni to Tibuhaburwa. But they were criticized.

In all honesty, with all due respect, I personally do not expect much from Kayanja and Team (some have even jokingly branded them “Religious Dealers”, instead of Religious Leaders). But when the Archbishop of the COU accompanied by a number of bishops, goes before with President, at a time like this in our nation, on a day such as St. Janani Luwum Memorial, I expected more. In fact, much better. Unless my expectations were misplaced. Because 44 years ago Janani Luwum had no example, but today we have him as ours. On that day, we had all the grounds to use his example to present more humane requests/demands before the “king”. I hope you understand why I say “we”. I have a feeling that even the king was disappointed. Because he’s aware of the beggar syndrome anyway. Remember how Pharaoh was disappointed on meeting Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 47. Even after Joseph briefing them in Genesis 46 about what to say, they couldn’t help but beg! Sometimes, if you are sure God has truly gone ahead of you, you don’t have to beg.

“The system is rotten!” Remains the lament of the people. And surely there are “legitimate and rational” reasons for us to believe so, because that is exactly the narrative the oppressor would love us to settle for. As we have already seen the NUP opting to withdraw their Election petition from the Supreme Court if the three Judges they named (especially the Chief Justice) do not withdraw from the bench. In the words of the husband of that lady who miscarried her 5 months triplets because of a reckless bullet from a desperate regime handler, there is no chance for justice in this country. However, not for Janani Luwum. In fact, that was my encouragement to the couple. That as long as the God whom Janani believed is the same God I believe in, and is exalted as Lord and King over this land, there shall be Justice. Not as we merely expect it from the king or his security machinery, or the courts (also appointed by him), but as God desires, and demands. And he will judge those who deny justice. But where is the voice of the Priest and Prophet 44 years on!

Now please come with me to 16th February 2077 if you will. It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon and I’m relaxing. At 95, I’m deep into the evening of my life, and my kids are all grown (Nathan is 63), and my grandkids are grown too. I’m a great-grandpa! I have so much time to talk about history. Maybe not as much energy to play. It is the Centenary (100 years) of St. Janani Luwum’s Martyrdom and is being celebrated in Mucwiinyi with a real crowd (since COVID is no longer an issue! The governments weren’t able to keep it around for that long!). This time it’s about Janani’s true Legacy. Looking back, those spectacles were merely a dancing on his grave and placing another barrel on his neck, if Ugandans couldn’t be assured of justice in their governance systems.

Now that you are here with me, do you see justice or even hope for it? Maybe. Whether we see it or not, we ought to believe in it, and live for it. And possibly even die for it. Janan Luwum did not leave us just his name, but an Example, and Legacy to follow, and carry on.
“For God and my Country”