The Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, Hannington Mutebi has announced that the Church of Uganda will hold a special event in Kampala ahead of the Janan Luwum day celebrations I Mucwiny Kitgum.
Addressing the press at the office of the Prime Minister in Kampala this afternoon, Bishop Mutebi said the event will be held on February 8th ahead of the National celebrations on February 16th.
Janan Luwum the Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga Zaire was murdered under the Amin Regime on 16th February 1977.
In 2015, President Yoweri Museveni declared the 16th of February a public holiday, in honor of the fallen hero to enable Ugandans and the rest of the world make a pilgrimage to mucwini for celebrations.
According to Bishop Mutebi, the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda will be the chief guest for the Kampala celebrations.
“On Sunday 5th February 2017, all roads will lead to St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe where the Archbishop Janani Luwum was supposed to have been buried” Bishop Mutebi said.
The event which begins at 10:30am will see people walking from five designated centres including; All Saints Cathedral Nakasero, Mengo Archdeaconary center, St. Francis Makerere, Zana Church of Uganda and McKay Church of Uganda.
The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda will be the chief preacher, while two testimonials about the life and ministry of Archbishop Janani Luwum will be presented before preaching.
Mutebi explains that; “the purpose of the Kampala event is to create awareness about the martyrdom of the Archbishop as we plan for the main event of the 16th February 017 at Mucwini, but also to enable and allow those who cannot make it to Mucwini to celebrate it in Kampala”
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda speaking at the same event said the late Bishop inspired the struggle for freedom of worship, as well as the NRA fighters during the bush war.
He says it was after Luwum’s death that Ugandans were motivated to fight for their rights and freedoms.