Humanist

Are we worthy of St. Janani Luwum Day?

“Archbishop Luwum was a leading voice in criticising the excesses of the Idi Amin regime that assumed power in 1971. In 1977, Archbishop Luwum delivered a note of protest to dictator Idi Amin against the policies of arbitrary killings and unexplained disappearances. Shortly afterwards the archbishop and other leading churchmen were accused of treason (and shortly afterwards were murdered by Idi Amin, it is believed.)”

Source Wikipedia

 

Are the main celebrants at the official government festivities to commemorate St. Luwum’s Day worthy to be so and to do so?

Are we, Ugandans as a whole, worthy if viewed through the lens and philosophy of St. Luwum?

How many of us can truly testify that we are consistent in our resolve to “cherish the value of upholding and defending the truth at all times?”

50 decades later, seemingly, we have traveled full-circle.

Hon. Winnie Kiiza, Woman Member of Parliament Representing Kasese District and former Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, protesting increased insecurity to person in Uganda. (Original photo source: Hon. Winnie Kiiza’s Facebook wall.)

Plenty of terrifying reports in the press about alleged state sanctioned kidnaps, abductions, torture, executions, and other alleged state sanctioned atrocities being meted out on Ugandans – ordinary and extra ordinary alike.

The abduction and the illegal detention of Kakwenza Rukirabashaija for the crime of authoring a fiction novel “The Greedy Barbarian”; and his subsequent torture by state operatives as he has written about in his book, “Banana Republic,” are two examples, among thousands, even perhaps millions, of incidences which show how we seem traveled full circle.

Dr. Stella Nyanzi in the dock in court being represented by Mr. Nicholas Opiyo. (Photo credit @ The Guardian)

Other prominent examples include seeming persecution by the state of the award-winning human rights lawyer, Mr. Nicholas Opiyo, for his work; including defending Dr. Stella Nyanzi, an academic and human rights activist, for she too is seemingly persecuted by the state for criticizing the current administration.

It is valid to conclude that, as a nation, we have failed St. Luwum.

But all is not lost. We can still find our way back and our voice back to speak truth to power, like St. Luwum did.

It is terrifying that this post first authored and published on 16th February 2021 remains the more valid five years later and with plenty more of the ills St. Luwum spoke out and up against happening. And there is hardly any push back.

Who in our times in position of public trust, such as St. Luwum, in Uganda is truly speaking out and up in defense of the truth?