O Uganda may God uphold thee, dear Pearl of Africa! At least that is what Winston Churchill believed and envisioned when he beheld you. One wonders whether you still are that to your offspring that desperately wants to trade itself into modern day slavery in the Arab world. Or to those languishing in hunger, poor healthcare, the thousands-and-thousands of unemployed graduates (no longer in their youth) not mentioning the ailing education system churning them out; the toiling farmers whose produce finally comes at the end of the season, only to be taken cheaply by the exploiter or just rot away! Yes, the many abled young men and women who languish in prisons with no hope for justice, whose only crime was to think and believe politically differently from the powers that be. Sometimes they console themselves as even lucky to be only in prison, coz then they are alive, if not tortured and maimed. Many of their comrades who held similar persuasions have either been officially killed by a stray bullet, or unofficially gone missing courtesy of your Elite security officers. At luckiest, they may be out of “prison”, but living with the kind of injuries and trauma that is not worth walking around with for the rest of your life. Especially in a country you call your motherland – Dear Pearl of Africa.

If anyone has been attentive to events in our country, they’ve probably not missed the fact that in recent years there has been a pattern of increased violation of human rights and dignity right ahead of the month of February in which we as country join the rest of the world to launch our Law Year. Interestingly, and ironically, the month of February brings us what in my opinion should be a very important day in our nation’s calendar – The Janani Luwum Day on 16th February. I say this because of what I imagine the day to represent; “An affirmation of the Church’s (especially leadership) Part and Commitment to the Fight against all form forms of brutality and injustices on fellow Ugandans, and for the Restoration of Human Rights and Dignity of all Ugandans irrespective of their religious, political or social persuasions. And Advocacy for equal and speedy access to justice for all Ugandans irrespective of their social or economic status.”

Given that Justice is a core pillar of our Constitution and Governance, and so much at the center of the Gospel and the very crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a day that is associated with Justice ought to be taken more seriously than the mockery we keep seeing each year in the pretense of commemorating a hero of justice and human rights. At least by the church. But do we even know anything about justice or injustices in this country? What are the current important issues and relevant statistics that someone would need to pay attention to in regards to justice and injustices in our nation? It is said that one wouldn’t know what disrespect is unless they knew true respect. I strongly believe it is true for justice too. We have a nation, and sadly a church that may have no clue what true justice is.

A Public Holiday! For What?
I tend to subscribe to the view that we have enough public holidays as a country, especially in the first quarter of the year! Did we really need another? Why was this day granted to the Church, and Nation as a Public Holiday? Wasn’t it enough to simply acknowledge the Canterbury Cathedral’s recognition of the late Archbishop Luwum as one of the Ten 20th Century Martyrs? To what end do we choose set apart a full day in our calendar, henceforth, to celebrate a dead man’s legacy? Does God care that we celebrate this day or not? Does it hold any spiritual, biblical, or perhaps, political significance/value? Hasn’t it become as inconsequential Valentine’s Day, or Mothers’ & Fathers’ Days, or the infamous International Men’s Day, and the like … ? It is noteworthy though, that more people are likely to be aware of what Valentine’s day and what it means to them than this day that actually interrupts their work life or study life annually when it falls on a week day.

While for you these may be seemingly irrelevant questions, because the day is not about to be degazetted, but they genuinely come from my friends, my kids, asking me why this was a “Public Holiday”, and what did it mean? What were they supposed to do with it? For one who looks to Janani Luwum as a personal hero, the mockery and pretense with which the church and state continue to commemorate the fallen Martyred Kingdom Legend was not again surprising as the nation marked 45 years since that fateful yet should be significant day. This time because the country was fully open, there was a gathering of pilgrims in Mucwinyi, but the “Main Celebrations”, apparently, were held where the king prefers such national functions to take place – the Kololo Independence grounds, the ground where most national heroes are celebrated. But there was, as with the day itself, a very low-profile insignificant function in Mucwinyi as well. For majority of the priests and the king’s representatives and delegates were where it conveniently mattered most.

In 2021, the king took the honor to convene the commemoration and celebration of the day at his palace. There he gathered the “High Priests” and “Prophets” in the nation, and he himself was one of the preachers that day. In the end what we witnessed was the celebration of the king, especially that he had just recently been declared the victor in another of those Ugandan electoral contests that one really wonders, “What for!”, since the king has always been the same since I was 4 years, and now I’m on the 4th floor. We also saw the institution of the Church of Uganda, to which the late Abp. Janani Luwum belonged coming up with a couple of requests before the king. Obviously, such requests are preceded by praises. Was Janani Luwum celebrated? Maybe that was the intention. But ….! Was there a deliberate commitment to the cause of justice and human rights and dignity for Ugandans, a cause for which the Martyr gave his life? We couldn’t bring that up without having to face and deal with the shame and guilt of the November 2020 bloodshed and other injustices that followed. So, we found a way around it. Was Amin blamed? Oh yes! What a brutal man he was, he and his regime.

What followed that public holiday? Security forces brutalizing innocent unarmed journalists who were deliver a petition, and another 12 months of scoffing at justice, with several extra-judicial arrests and imprisonments, incarcerations, maiming, brutalizing, killings, disappearances, … The Kakwenza case leading us to the next commemoration of the 2022 Janani Luwum Day. As we gather again, to praise the king, of course, two members of parliament are in prison and being treated as security wishes, especially because they are NUP, an opposition force to the current regime. Even though legally they are suspects. Dr. Stella Nyanzi (a foul-mouthed regime critic) fled into exile, it is believed that Nicholas Opio (a Human Rights Lawyer) also fled, Spire Ssentongo a writer and cartoonist, now Kakwenza Rukirabashaija (a novelist and critique to the regime) has also fled to Europe for treatment following his arrest, detention, and torture, but might not return. Who will it be next? Me! Until when?

Writing about this day last year, in lieu of what I had seen, I imagined the late Abp. Janani Luwum “Dying Twice”. Though of course the “deaths” in both cases are different. In the first he is brutally murdered for his convictions and what he stands against, but in the second he is murdered for expressing shock at our mockery and hypocrisy as we pretend to use his death for a cause we do not believe in. A cause we can only kill for but not die for. A cause we aren’t willing to confront the toughest issues about.

So why exactly were we gathering this year? Did we have a report on what had been achieved from last year’s commitments? Was it just to fulfil all righteousness and tick this off, and spend the allocated funds? Well, you guessed right. To be reminded once again of how terrible Amin and all the others were until we got the good king in 1986. Yes, in 1986! Almost 40 year down the road, the good king has made sure we do not go back down that road. Pun intended.

What is the Cost or Benefit of Silence amidst What we see in our Country Today?
As a retired clergy I happen have “more time” on me than I did before, which allows me to reflect on quite a lot of reality around me. As a writer, I find myself typing or recording my thoughts, perhaps with the intention to air them out someday. But of late I had taken a vow of silence (sort of). However, when it comes to commemorating and honoring a Legacy like Janani Luwum’s, silence doesn’t seem a practical option. Especially given the state of affairs in our country, and the loud silence, or at least the clear intentional avoidance of the conversation on the abuses of human rights and torture, lest you shake tables with some important people’s drinks on them.

But anyone who knows me very well knows for sure that if I had lived in Janani Luwum’s day, or had I been in his shoes, I would have done the same, and possibly to the same fate! I’m also a student of Missiology and a Missiologist who strongly believes that because Justice is core to the Cross and the Gospel message, it is therefore crucial for our Christian presence and witness in the world. How the church behaves around issues of justice is of very crucial Missiological value because they concern all people personally or relationally, victims or perpetrators. The Gospel is a healing message for the oppressed and the oppressor.

While silence and indifference are becoming natural posture in our now numbed society, I wonder what it was like in Janani Luwum’s heart and mind days prior to 16th February 1977? How about the other Bishops with whom he had met, and together came up with this document that their Leader would sacrificially commit himself to deliver to the dictator on their behalf concerning the wanainchi? Imagine the restlessness and sleeplessness at night after each appending their signature to the document and praying for their brother yet knowing the likely outcome. Imagine the “bunkenke”, the wishing to contact your brother to plead with him to perhaps think about his family, the remaining work of the gospel, the Church house Project, the obvious effectiveness when alive, and beg him to please reconsider – “Let’s continue committing the matter to the Lord. Let’s rally more Prayer warriors and intercessors to fast into this matter. There must be another way that the Sovereign Lord can deal with the dire situation in our nation. He will comfort the hurting, heal the wounded, and bring peace someday.” You would argue him. And you wouldn’t be necessarily wrong about a thing. But you know what, history would be different.

What about in the build up to 16th February 2022? A house of Bishops gathered at Lweza for several reasons. What is on their Agenda? What is the mood? How did they intentionally use their time together to plan for the 45th Commemoration of the Janani Luwum Day, especially considering the recent torture and rampant injustices in the nation? Has the Nation healed from November 2020? We needed to fill the vacant slots of Dioceses without Bishops, hence elections were looming. That is top of the Agenda. Church House? We got some UGX. 21 billion recently from sale of prime land near Entebbe Airport, so we are fairly at ease with pressure from that debt. The rest of the country? Ahhhh … Yes, the Provincial Theme of the year is “Hope Beyond Affliction”, but what afflictions are the bishops aware of in regard to the wanainchi? Who and what, is afflicting the wanainchi? The preacher of the day kept using the statement “Hope Beyond Affliction” but was too shy to boldly name and address any afflictions that Ugandans are facing. When the Archbishop had his chance to speak, he mentioned how he had seen pictures of torture in the news and on WhatsApp, asking Gov’t to investigate them. But such boardroom talk can’t deal with the issue at hand.

Recently, a one Godber Tumushabe lamented to the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda about what he termed as “the deafening silence” from the Church/Clergy from top to bottom (including the Primate himself), pleading with him to “say something”. I would differ by saying, it would be surprising if the church leadership came out openly to speak out on anything of that nature. Maybe if Sevo publicly took a second wife. And just maybe. I’m still not sure we would speak against polygamy. Maybe if he became gay! Not if he took and used gay money. Coz he does that all the time. And gives us either some of it, or what he has mixed with it. But I’m stretching this a little you know! I lack the space for this digression.

But why should Godber et al expect the Clergy to speak out now? Have they heard them speak out on other such matters before? Think about the socio-economic injustices in this country. The health and educational injustices … When did the church come out against the unjust status quo, and what exactly did they say?

While addressing a team that I once was part of, one leader put it clear that though John the Baptist had been a wonderful evangelist, his head ended on a platter. He assured them that it was not his path to also have his head on a platter. But if some of them wished, they could go ahead. It reminded me of a critique of Abp. Janani Luwum I heard some time back. Apparently, in Amin’s time it was very stupid of him to do what he did because the repercussions were obvious and severe. To some, he got what he asked for. If Justice is about accountability, do we imagine that this Government granted this day so that it can be held accountable in the area of Justice? Speaking out becomes complicated when the king has an avenger for a prince! You never know whether what you say tantamount to touching the leopard’s nini, and what will happen to your head or your family.

It is indeed true that the greatest Evangelist in Biblical times (at least according to Jesus), John the Baptist, had his head end up on a platter, as it was presented to a young princess for pulling killer dance moves before her dad, mom, and guests. But why exactly was his head cut off? Was it because of his rebuke to the king? Or because of the ungodly conniving mother and belly-dancing daughter who arm-twisted Herod after his egoistic promise? Well, one may argue that his reckless rebuke led to imprisonment, and in prison his head was cut off. But it is worth remembering that when Herod wanted to kill him, he relented because he feared the people. The skin-donning, locust-eating Prophet had followers. Even the king had to rationally consider the consequences of killing such a man, simple as he may have been, he was not merely inconsequential. He had the favour of God and of the people. Herod was aware of that.

John the Baptist had said to Herod who had taken Herodias (his brother Philip’s wife), that what he had done was not Lawful. In other words; “Not godly”. Herold reacted in a “lawful way” by putting him to prison. And went on to enjoy his life. Until his birthday. This particular birthday that would later turn bloody! The daughter danced, — the king was pleased, just as was all his company and guests; — the king promised/offered, with oath (as all kings, under the influence of …… would boastfully do); — the mother plotted; and finally, the prophet was murdered! Now that should have been a non-issue for the Roman outfit. But what did John the Baptist’s death mean to Herod? Did it mean the same to Herodias? Did it mean anything to her daughter? Note that Matthew intentionally tells us whose daughter it is that dances. When she was given the head that she asked, she just took it to her mother, who had guided/misguided her to request for it. Her part was done. She had been used.

The other way to see this whole mess is to imagine that this dysfunctional royal family plotted to do it that way. And that the dancing girl is simply on script. If not, imagine the conversation between Herod and Herodias, and their daughter, later when the guests are gone. “What exactly were you thinking when you asked that man’s head?! Remember he had feared the people. So I wonder; whether “the people” were still there, or Herod had had a little more than one drink; or that something else, someone else took over the king’s place and desposition. One would wish, as it was in the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den, or his friends in the feiry furnance, that also in this case, maybe that the blade didn’t work. Or that something to have controlled the guys who went to bring the head. Perhaps even breaking him out of prison. He had “the people” on his side! While his death was because he was already in prison, we cannot infer that his boldness and courage to speak out to Herod’s ungodly acts directly led to his death. Perhaps, ultimately.

Game Changer?

Colin Duriez in the Book AD 33 – The Year That Changed the World (2006), argues that the events of Jesus’ life in that particular year, in the build-up to his crucifixion, the crucifixion and resurrection, and the aftermath of it all, did not leave Jerusalem or the whole Roman empire ever the same again. Why? Because of Jesus, and it can all be historically tracked down to the year AD 33.

If Uganda was a person, by now she would be heading into retirement. Having got her independence in 1962 she should be making 60 years as a Sovereign state this year. Probably lived out a complete life and gone through all generations. How then do we position the Janani Luwum Day into this reality? Yes the Public Holiday was granted much later by a different king. Understandably so. But the legacy has been on since the event. Just as Amin’s brutal regime has been known to be so, not from when the public Holiday was declared, but right back in the 1970s.

How about 1977? Duriez positions AD 33 in the appropriate socio-economic and political context of Jerusalem under Roman captivity, where the Romans dominated the known world and ran the show. It was their politics and economics that took the day. If you survived and stayed afloat, it was because Rome let you. It is important for us to remind ourselves of the Uganda and Kampala of 1977. It was Amin’s Uganda, and so it was Amin’s Kampala. It was his economy, his politics, his army … his rules. To put it simply, he was a dictator! No other Ugandan had a say even in matters concerning their own life. In such a setup it shouldn’t be surprising that men (and perhaps women too) like the late Abp. Janani Luwum could have triggered their own obvious fate. And because it was obvious, it then should never have mattered thereafter. Just like Rome had the power to silence any voice of dissent. Jesus calling himself King was enough to earn him a disappearance. A crucifixion, perhaps as a deterrent for others. But once it happened in AD 33, unlike any other crucifixion before or after Him, Jerusalem and Rome would never be the same again. It should then be expected that, Janani Luwum’s murder by Amin in 1977 should never have left Kampala and the whole of Uganda ever the same again.

However, some would argue that forty-five years later and the only difference is that the church leaders are numb and silent. But the king behaves pretty much the same as Amin did, just in a more advance and elite manner. State engineered atrocities and injustices against wanainchi, especially those who are of political dissent, are rampant and becoming normal! Human dignity remains a utopian idea. Honestly, what has changed? I ask myself. It is said that Amin had abolished the Parliament and undermined the judiciary. Disregarded the constitution. Uganda was his. He was the Government! Does this sound familiar to those who never experienced Amin’s regime? What is the difference between a pseudo-parliament (a dummy parliament) and no parliament at all? Is it better to have no Constitution, or have one that the king can have changed whenever he wishes? A judiciary appointed, paid, managed, and promoted by the king? Or no judiciary at all? Well, as long as we have freedom of worship, drive monster SUVs like Gov’t officials, get financial support for our church projects, even lobby save our desperate and dead projects, … we can sleep at night! We will hold prayer meetings about the rest of the issues.

What then, has the Pearl of Africa done with Janani Luwum’s legacy over the years? Have we created and opened up the space for that kind of legacy to be emulated? It only seems clear that the socio-political, economic and religious terrain continues only to allow for the same occurrences of the 1970s. That’s why it shouldn’t be surprising that it has become even harder to imagine anyone daring to do the “Janani Luwum”. Yet the state and its machinery are well equipped and well experienced to do the “Amin” undeterred and without any accountability.

Today we remember John the Baptist more than we remember Herod or Herodias. In Uganda, on 16th February, we pretend to celebrate Janani Luwum, but we remember Amin more. We spend more time talking about how bad Amin was, and so much more on how good the “king” is. Shouldn’t we be spending more time reflecting on the implications of Janani Luwum’s boldness and courage in times when it was almost impossible? Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves whether the church has been able to carry on in the direction that Luwum gave his life for. Somehow, it seems to come down to, “Since Amin the Dictator is no longer here, and we have a better king, things are better. The priests have nothing to rise up for. Justice is alright. At least not as bad as it was under the bad king, Amin.” Historians tell us that Janani’s murder/death was a tipping point for Amin’s regime. A view affirmed by Retired Abp. Henry Orombi in his 2022 tribute to a man he considered a mentor. Amin had crossed an unthinkable line, and the international community would wake up from its jadedness and complacency and support the Liberation of Uganda. What was the “game changer”? Was it Luwum’s courage or Amin’s murderous response to it? What would be the game changer today?

“Fear is as infectious as any virus.” Says Michela Wrong. “I’ve written books before that annoyed ruling regimes but have never felt quite so personally at risk. If something happened to me, I decided at a certain point, I would at least make sure my material survived. I took to religiously backing up every interview and set of notes, then storing the key USB stick with a friend, in case my apartment was broken into. To prevent cybersnooping, I kept the laptop on which I wrote this manuscript permanently offline, hiding it at the end of each working day under the ….”

In a country where people are arrested, tortured, imprisoned, maimed, for simply airing their views on the ailing state of the healthcare, education, economy, politics, justice, human rights, which are clearly based of reality, it is ironic that we dare to commemorate a man who sacrificed himself to speak against the injustices of his day. It is in fact, oxymoronic!

In a country with our demographics, where over 80% were not yet born when Iddi Amin murdered Abp. Janani Luwum. To put farther context to this, fifteen years after our independence as a country. So we were still under close monitoring by Britain as a former Administrator. They didn’t not like the state of affairs in the Pearl of Africa. Perhaps, they might have wished, it could have served us better if they had stayed a little longer. “These Africans just can’t lead or manage themselves without savage brutality!” But this was Amin. Why should they be surprised. But his predecessor Milton Obote had put his name in the history books eleven years earlier by the double-tragedy of exiling Mutesa and the attack on the Kasubi tombs.

Lessons from Janani Luwum, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ.
We learn from Janani Luwun, John the Baptist, the Uganda Martyrs, Jesus Christ, that life on this side of earth can be lived “short”, but purpose and legacy is not in the hands of those who threaten to cut it “short”! At 40 I have experienced a couple of things that make me wonder whether it is still possible or worth threatening me with cutting my life short. I’m a strong believer, as fellow commemorators like former Abp. Orombi, Rev. Paul Wasswa, and others have stated that firm conviction in the truth is crucial for our Christian witness and stand in this world. For so it was for the man we claim to commemorate.

For us today, we are so careful and calculative in what we say about what the regime does with whomever, for all reasons imaginable. They have their informers right within us. They not only have the power to feed us, but they also have the power to cut off our heads. Part of John the Baptist’s confidence as a Prophet before a king of his day was that he never needed Herod for his survival. And Herod knew it very well. On the other hand, today, the high priests and prophets so desperately need the king for their survival. And the king knows it very well.

I need to make it clear at this very point that I have no intention of positioning Janani Luwum with Jesus Christ. Janani preached Jesus, and he was inspired by the Cross of Christ to step up to a dictator, even to the point of sacrificing his life. They are far apart. But I see parallel lessons to learn from each. For example, Jesus we remember (at least by instruction), and we have several public holidays around Him. We are also intentional about what we teach children and others who don’t know about him. Janani Luwum, we remember too. We even have a Public Holiday gazetted in his name. But unless his sacrifice was in vain, it makes no sense to commemorate him without being intentional as to what this day and his legacy means to this country and to individual citizens, especially for those who languish on the other side of justice. There are many people in this country who long to know what justice really is. Even though we have Justice as pillar to our governance.

We are challenged to appropriate the same passion and resources, and pulpit time, and strategy, to uphold Janani Luwum’s legacy more than just a house that we claim to have named after him, now called Church House. There is no doubt about how much effort has been put into saving the building named after Janani Luwum. But how much do we give for his legacy? Our vocal preoccupation with with salvaging the threatened glory buildings makes impossible for us to realize the importance of our voice on issues of justice, human rights and dignity. All our passion, creativity, energies, and constrained resources, and opportunities like weekly pulpits, functions and media platforms where we are invited, are spent out on things that give us institutional pride. By the time we are needed to offer anything on injustices and oppressions concerning the wanainchi, we are depleted, exhausted, unavailable — mute! But we are still church. — How about if we gave considerable time, perhaps a month, in the build-up to the Commemoration of the Janani Luwum Day, and we utilized every opportunity and platform to teach the Church and all the nation about this Justice. — How about, if the COU through the House of Bishops, working with relevant agencies like Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) and others put together a well investigated document on the state of justice/injustice in the country, presented it to the Anglican MPs (if those exist), and persuaded them to table it before Parliament for consideration as a National Matter.

The Cross of Jesus Christ is not a place of silence. Yes, there are those that are sad and silenced by the loud voices shouting, “Crucify him!” But like the Prophet Isaiah had said earlier. God traps down both the Jews and the Romans (Gentiles) at one public spectacle. There at the Cross God shouts at humanity; you are sinners, you deserve this, but I have given my Son in your place; Justice is served; In my Son’s pure sacrifice I am satisfied, you are forgiven. And Jesus Himself shouts, “It is finished”, breathes his last, and gives up His soul.2 This is at the climax of His public ministry during which he constantly subversively and directly challenged the status quo. Not merely silently. Yes, He was silent before Pilate, but not dealing with injustices, nor at the Cross! So as believers and followers Christ we don’t have the privilege of being silent in the current state of affairs. Unless indeed we are co 

Is “my Head” Worth Saving? Is it mine to “Save”?
As I close it off, I want to ask; What is the value or cost of your head?
Some say, you ought to use your “head” to save your head. Because once your head is gone, you can’t save anything. But to what extent are you the “Saviour” of your head? If you have bowed your head, and heart, to the one who created all life, even though you are slaughtered, you will live eternally with Him. It is a shame to His name when we bow our heads to mortal men just because we are afraid to lose them. We forget that He who gave us heads, has the power to destroy both head and soul in hell! So says the Scriptures.

Imagine for a moment, if Amin didn’t kill Luwun! The world would probably have been shocked at his unlikely response. And I wouldn’t be writing this! Or, What if Herod did not heed to the request for John the Baptist’s head! What if Pilate did not give in to the manipulations of the Jewish religious and political leaders of his day to crucify Jesus. What if, Kabaka Mwanga did not give in to his ego and kill those whom we now know as the Uganda Martyrs?! History would simply not be the same. But they all happened, and History took a different direction. Yet in all, and even now, God is present, and Sovereign. History has shown us that as long as God is still in charge, the perpetrators of injustices don’t ultimately take the day. God’s justice does.

That’s the beauty of the Cross of Calvary, where Jesus did not only give his head to be covered with a crown of thorns, but his whole self. Hands and feet to be nailed, and his body to be pierced. None of us will ever be required to do the same. But if we ever have to give our heads in this broken, fallen, postmodern world, for His name’s sake, for the sake of the powerless and voiceless, may it be because we already gave our Hearts, minds, and souls to Him. Just like Janani Luwum. May we deceive ourselves to go to sleep, having bowed our heads in fear of losing them, while those whom God has called us to defend languish in the injustices of our world with no voice to speak for them. May we not be found to be yielding to the counsel of the wicked, walking in the way of sinners, and sitting among scoffers. May we, having loved mercy, acted justly, and walked humbly before our God; and having served His purposes in our generation, bow our heads, in pain or joy, gladly join our Lord in proclaiming, “Yes, It is finished! Hallelujah” Glory to God!

For God and My Country
To the Glory of God