The Chairperson of the Women’s league of the ruling political party, National Resistance Movement (NRM), Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, has urged Ugandans to borrow a leaf from Archbishop Janani Luwum whom she said fought for peace and justice for all in Uganda to the extent of losing his life.
Her remarks come at a time when Uganda is celebrating 45 years since the brutal murder of Luwum who was then the second Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire. The main celebrations are taking place at Kololo Independence grounds presided over by President Yoweri Museveni.
In a phone interview with Plus News, Wanyoto remarked that the late Archbishop stood his ground against arbitrary killings, unexplained disappearances of civilians and other forms of injustices meted on the people by the Idi Amin government, all in the name of loving his country.
This trait, she says, ought to be emulated by all Ugandans.
“Ugandans should love their country and fight for peace and justice just like how Luwumu did,” Wanyoto said.
The ex-lawmaker further in a tweet said Luwum’s murder showed a high sense of responsibility on his side as a leader.
She was however quick to implore Ugandans especially those in the oppositions to desist from violating laws which puts them at risk of being subjected to torture by some indisciplined members of security forces.
It should be noted that when President Idi Amin assumed power in Uganda after a military coup, his reign is said to have been characterised by human rights abuses, political repression and corruption. It is estimated that the number of people killed during his regime was over 100,000.
Archbishop Luwum was a leading figure in the criticism of the excesses of the Idi Amin regime. In 1977 Archbishop Luwum delivered a note to Idi Amin, protesting against the policies of unjustified killings and unexplained disappearances.
But on February 16, 1977, Luwum and two cabinet ministers were arrested and accused of treason and planning a coup. It was then announced that all three were killed in a car crash, caused by the victims trying to overpower the driver.
When the body of Luwum was released to his family, it was established that the cause of his death was gunshot wounds.