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Ugandan government apologizes for martyrdom of Archbishop Luwum
2003-037-4
2/20/2003
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[Episcopal News Service]
For the first time since Archbishop Janani Luwum was martyred 26 years ago, the Ugandan government has apologized to the Anglican Church and the entire global community. A scholarship fund in his honor has been established at Kitemu Secondary School for students who want to enroll in theological studies after graduation.
Speaking for the government, Zamzam Kasujja, deputy for legal affairs, apologized for 'the sins of our predecessors,' adding that the murder of the archbishop by Idi Amin, the dictator ruling the country at the time, 'not only robbed the church of a courageous and committed leader but also plunged our country into economic, political and religious lows never seen before.' Luwum was murdered February 16, along with two outspoken government ministers.
'But perhaps more importantly, the martyrdom of the archbishop epitomizes a spirit of resilience which we celebrate this morning,' said Kasujja during a memorial service hosted by Kitemu school.
Luwum has been honored as a 20th century martyr with a statue on the west front of Westminster Abbey in London.
'Archbishop Luwum's commitment to the Gospel, even in the face of death, reminds us to go out and renew our lives and the world around us,' said the Most Rev. Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, primate of the Church of Uganda. 'To make our journey in life shine with a star's delight; and the God of our pilgrimage will be with us throughout life and death.'
The primate thanked the leadership of the current government for trying to make up for the mistakes of the past by restoring sanity and a strong working relationship with the church.
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