The late Archbishop Janani Luwum was born in 1924 in Mucwini, Chua, to Eliya Okello and Aireni Aciro. He was educated in Puranga, Kitgum and Gulu High School, and trained as a teacher at Canon Lawrence Teachers’ College, Boroboro in Lira. He was a school teacher when, in a dramatic conversion, in the tradition of the East African Revival, he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour on 6 January 1948. This totally changed his life. The Revival leadership then called on him to enroll for Church ministry.
Janani Luwum left teaching and in 1949 started training at Bishop Usher Wilson Theological College, Buwalasi. In 1956, he was ordained Priest of then, Upper Nile Diocese in St Phillips Church, Gulu, thereafter serving as chaplain and parish priest in several Church schools and parishes. He went for one-year Anglican leadership course at St Augustine’s College, Canterbury (1958-9). On return, he was appointed Tutor and then Deputy Principal of Buwalasi .He returned to England for a 3-year Diploma programme at the London College of Divinity, which he completed in two (2) years.
On return home in June 1965, Rev Janani Luwum was appointed Principal of Buwalasi. In September 1966, he became Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga Zaire. On 25th January 1969, he was consecrated Bishop of Northern Uganda. On 9 June 1974, Bishop Janani Luwum was installed as successor to Archbishop Erica Sabiti, the first African Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire (Eastern DRC) .
On the 16th February 1977, Archbishop Janani Luwum was murdered at Nakasero by then President of Uganda, Gen Idi Amin Dada. This followed a period of great tension and ugly showdown between the Church and the Amin regime. His body was secretly transported and dumped at the church yard at Wii Gweng, Mucwini, Kitgum District. He was buried there on the 19th February 1977. This has been his resting place ever since.
It was the searing martyrdom of St. Janani that marked the pivotal turning point for the Amin regime and the subsequent liberation of Uganda. With the murder of the Archbishop, the international community was finally and dramatically jolted from its jadedness - - even complacency - - about the Amin regime. An unthinkable line had been crossed by Amin. At the international level, the impact was huge. This became a game-changer.
Archbishop Janani Luwum’s martyrdom prompted Canterbury Cathedral to establish the Modern Martyrs Chapel in the Cathedral; this was dedicated in July 1978 during the Lambeth Conference. In July 1998, St Janani Luwum’s statue was unveiled on the West Wall of Westminster Abbey, London, among ten selected 20th Century Christian Martyrs.
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