Minister Otafiire (in a casual shirt), Chief justice, Owiny Dollo (on shades) and Dr. Kazimba (with a pastoral staff) joined by other clergy, government ministers and legislators during the commemoration of St Janani Luwum Day.
By Arnest Tumwesige and Walter Okot
Kitgum: The Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has advised Ugandans to vote wisely in the coming 2026 general election.
“Countrymen, much as God anoints leaders, you also have a role to play. You have your vote, be careful. Be very careful. Exercise your right to vote diligently, cautiously aware of where you are going.”
Otafiire said Uganda deserves better without following sweet “nothings”.
“If you want to lead, it is not your handsome face or beautiful dress. It’s what you are going to do for us. Unatupeleka Wapi? (Where are you taking us?) When you get another Idi Amin, don’t blame me,” he observed
Speaking during the 47th commemoration of St Janani Luwum Day at Wii Gweng in Mucwini, Kitgum district on Friday, the Minister noted that voters could have invited Idi Amin into power because of excitement.
He cautioned some individuals who are promised heaven on earth by some political leaders and the next day, the “man” turns into a monster.
“You’ve created him, you can’t remove him. So be careful. We’ve walked a long path. I’m sure we have faulted along the way. Faulting is not a problem. The problem is the inability to learn from your mistakes. But mistakes are inhuman. It is the only stationary car that doesn’t raise dust. But when you raise dust and notice it, do you inhale it?”
Otafiire expressed worry that Ugandans celebrated the death of Janan Luwum by not questioning whether it was worthy for him to die, and continued following Amin as if nothing had happened.
“I encourage all Ugandans to speak to exercise their right to freedom of expression and freedom of association. Nobody should gag you,” Otafiire said.
Otafiire blamed opposition leaders for rioting instead of exercising their freedom of expression, which is legitimate and legal, unlike rioting.
President on Luwum legacy
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in his speech read by Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo, described the Late Luwum as a person who stood for truth, justice, faith, and respect for human rights in Uganda and beyond.
“Arch Bishop Luwum was a leading figure for the criticism of the excesses of the Idi Amin regime. In 1977, he delivered a note to Idi Amin protesting against the policies of unjustified killings and unexplained disappearances,” Museveni noted.
This open criticism is believed to have resulted in the arrest of Luwum with other two cabinet Ministers (Oboth Ofumbi and Erinayo Oryema) on February 16, 1977, of claims of treason and planning a coup.
The arrest was followed by an announcement that all three were killed in a car crash caused by the victims who were trying to overpower the driver.
The President noted that Luwum did not relent on what he believed was right and ended up paying the ultimate price.
“It is reported that in the height of extra-judicial killing, the British contacted him and were ready to take him away from Uganda, but he refused and was reported to have said ‘If the shepherd flees what will happen to the flock’; I am not afraid in all this, I see the hand of God,” Museveni said.
The president said today Uganda is a free country where freedom of worship is a right and enjoyable to all.
He added that the NRM government has also restored dignity and integrity, which has contributed to peace and stability among Ugandans and the greater East Africa region.
President grateful for PDM
Museveni noted that since 1986, the government has been struggling with economic recovery, expansion, diversification, and transformation, which has led to the growth of household businesses and various wealth-creation initiatives.
“This means that the government’s efforts to create wealth at the household level are taking root. We are registering progress in the initiatives that we created to help elevate our people and eradicate poverty from households.”
He explained that in the 2021-2026 manifesto, the NRM promised to use the Parish Development Model (PDM) as a strategy to reach homesteads that are still in a subsistence economy to support them gain money. “I’m glad that the
PDM program has succeeded in bringing down the households outside the money economy from 68% to the present figure of 39%.”
Dr. Kazimba wants Teacher’s College elevated
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu said there is still much work to do on the Janani Luwum project to attract more benefits from tourism investment.
Dr. Mugalu thanked the president for pledging support in settling the debt of Janani Luwum Church House and requested the Ministry of Finance to consider compensating the church over the piece of land at Makerere.
He explained that the Church will use the proceeds to settle the loan balance with Equity Bank which was used to build the house.
“I do request the government through the Ministry of Education and Sports to reconsider reopening St. Lawrence Primary Teachers’ College in the Diocese of Lango and be lifted to another level to suit the required educational standard of our teachers.
This is the college where Luwum studied and became a teacher, but it was among those that were phased out, it is the only way we can promote the legacy of Luwum if we are honoring him,” Dr. Kaziimba requested.
He also requested government ministries to partner with the Church of Uganda to develop religious tourism sites like Uganda Martyrs’ Namugongo, Bishop Hannington, Busoga, and Janani Luwum Memorial Site for hospitality and perseveration of Christian heritage.
He warned those people grabbing the church land that the land is dedicated to God’s missions, and equally tasked leaders to put church land to good use to protect it from misuse and abuse.
Archbishop Odama on Luwum
Dr. John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Gulu described St Janani Luwum as a leader who stood for Christ for his people, in Uganda and beyond.
Odama described Luwum as a teacher of faith, truth, courage, justice, peace, and reconciliation, and urged people to flock to Wii Gweng to emulate him and also show an example of how to live like Christ on Earth.
“Luwum has left the responsibility for us as religious leaders. At this moment, we must stand where he stood and speak with confidence and trust God and lead our people to follow Christ and our nation Uganda to follow Christ,” Odama said.
