Gulu remembers Archbishop Luwum

By Dennis Ojwee and Rev. Willy Akena

Hundred of Christians on 16th February thronged St. Janani Luwum Anglican Church in Layibi Central, Gulu Municipality to attend commemoration prayers for Archbishop Janani Luwum. Luwum, who was the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, was brutally murdered by former President Idi Amin on February 16th, 1977. Luwum was reportedly arrested and killed together with ministers Charles Oboth Ofumbi and Erinayo Oryema after a rally in Kampala over allegations of criticizing Amin’s government. Speaking during the occasion, the retired Anglican Bishop of Northern Uganda Diocese, Allan Gideon Oboma, urged Christians to stand firm in their faith as Luwum did. He urged the government to make St. Janani Luwum day a national prayer day.

Oboma also said Luwum should be included on the list of Uganda Martyrs, who are remembered nationally and internationally. Anania Akera 99, a resident of Gulu, said Luwum died for truth and justice. He donated sh 1 million towards the construction of a modern church at Laliya in Gulu Municipality named St. Janani Luwum.

The Bishop of northern Uganda, Johnson Gakumba praised Luwum for drafting the first 10 –year’s development plan for the church when he was enthroned the third Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda in 1974. He urged Christians to heed to their faith as soldiers of Christ saying their faith will help them overcome challenges. He appealed to Christians to put up a befitting Church in memory of Archbishop Janani Luwum. The bishop said if one person can put up a storied building how can the Christians together fail to put up a church building. Bishop Johnson urged Christian to read the book about Archbishop Luwum written by his secretary Margaret Ford titled Janani the making of a Martyr. He also said another publication of that Book is soon coming out and it will have a chapter that talks about how the life of Janani Luwum speaks to us today.

In another related development the Principal of Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College Rev. Wilson Atine said, there are seven important things that happened to Archbishop Janani Luwum that are worth remembering and these are:- Luwum was the third Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, secondly he was the third Archbishop of the Province of Church of Uganda Rwanda and Boga Zaire, thirdly Luwum was killed with two others (three people killed), fourthly there were three wounds on Luwum’s body (mouth, chest and stomach), fifthly Luwum body was taken to three different places before burial(Namirembe, Madi Opei and finally Mucwini) Sixth Luwum was buried in the third grave , and Seventh, three things were missing on Luwum’s body (the Cross, ring and the attire).

Bishop Johnson quoted Janani Luwm words about educated people “Many educated people have run away from the church, they want the church to fall. But today I say, if the church if falling let it fall on me.” This was at All Saints cathedra Kitgum. Bishop Johnson said the church will never fall, instead many of the Christians, clergy or lay readers will fall but the church will remain strong. He challenged the educated people to come back to church and support it growth. During the prayer a total of over 10 million shillings was raised in pledges and cash for the construction of the Church at layibi.

All joy at the Uganda Prison Gulu

Bishop Johnson Gakumba took his time to be with the inmates of Gulu Government Prision as the year 2010 came to a close. Many activities took place among them were the baptism and confrimation, Holy communion, netball and football. Rev.Willy brings you a photo exhibition of the events that day. Finally the Bishop's cup was handed over to the winning team

From School drop out to role model

Anek Grace was born in Nwoya District to a Christian family. She started school very well and when she was in Primary Six in Purongo Primary School the rebels of the Lords’ Resistance Army abducted her. She stayed with them for two weeks and by God’s grace went back home where she sat for her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) but because of the war she did not even see here results. They were then displaced from Purongo to Anaka more than twenty kilometers from their original village. Life in Anaka became difficult and she had to start selling food staff and charcoal in the market. In the middle of all these Grace got a boy friend and eloped with him, because she could not produce a child, the boy friend lost interest in having her as a wife. She come back home, continued with doing small business with little capital. Life in the squalid camp became extremely complicated, uprooted from home and not able to get food from their garden. When News came to Anaka that Women Development Centre needs girls who have not had opportunityty to go for further studies to join WDC in order to be given life skills training, Grace was selected and she successfully completed her training at the WDC in 2009. She was given a sewing machine but no capital to kick start, however, with her skills in small business Grace was able to start sewing clothes in Anaka Town Council together with her friends who also completed their training at the WDC like Aweko Catherine, Ajok Filder, Ajok Jakline, and Akello Grace, they first rented a room in the centre but because of few customers and lack of material the other members decided to try some where else like in the market and verandah of shops. In addition to sewing clothes Grace has open a small hotel in Anaka Town Council known as ANAKA FAMILY HOTEL , when asked why she named her hotel FAMILY she said she wants to be like a mother to all and that all those who come to her hotel should feel at home.

Anek Grace a former head girl and WDC share light movement with Lucy Apiyo the Principal WDC on 6th January 2012 in Anaka Grace also told me that both of her parents are alive but very weak, her father got an accident and has serious problem with the hip bone and unable to walk, he scrawl. He mother has Asthma. Although her business is not doing very well but Grace told me that she was able to save over 400,000 (four hundred thousand shillings) and that she bought a piece of land with intention of investing in it in future.

Adong Grace one of the students who completed in 2010 displayed her own made headgear (head dress) which has earned her some money during the last Christmas at Lakwana. Pix 3rd Jan 2012 Grace also told me that she is currently single and has no child and that she underwent an operation inorder to get a child but she has not got yet. She also told me that she fears having affairs with men who seems not trusted. She said her sister who followed her called Akello Christine committed suicide because of marital problems. The late Christine died because here husband divorced here with three children and life was unbearable. Grace is very optimistic that given more training or refresher courses and facilitation she could be a very successful woman and be able to support here self and others as well. Her experience as the head girl taught here many things and she is able to organize her friends to do a meaningful work.

Vicky Okwera a mother of Two in Lalogi says she is able to support her children because of the training that she got from WDC. Pix 4th Jan 2012

Changing the face of Northern Uganda

The Golden Jubilee Cake


Mother Union President Mrs Doreen Omaya and the Chairperson Clergy spouse Mrs Christine Onyango handing over a gifts to Rev. Merilyn Wilson
Students of Gulu High School
The Uganda Cancer Insitute van


Minster Kabakumba opening the Church at Musalaba
Minister Kabakumba Matsiko

Bishop Sunday Miller looking at the Order of service for ordination of Merilyn Wilson

Bishop Johnson introducing a team of Doctors
On November 26th the Diocese of Northern Uganda celebrated 107(1904-2011) years of arrival of Christianity into Acholi land and 50 (1961-2011) years of her existence as a Diocese in the Province of the Church of Uganda. This year’s celebration was the most colourful one in 42 years. According to elders, the last celebration that was held on the exact spot was in 1969, during the reign of the Late Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was then the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda.
President Museveni asked the people of Acholi to forget about the war as the government continues with its reconstruction efforts in the region.
At the celebrations which took place at Keyo Hills, Lamogi Sub-county in Amuru District, the President said forgiveness and embracing reconciliation are cordial virtues that could heal the wounds caused by the LRA insurgency.
“Bitterness will not take this area anywhere, people must forgive and reconcile with one another as the region redevelops,” he said, in a statement read for him by Minister for Presidency Kabakumba Masiko.
Mr. Museveni re-emphasised the government’s commitment to redevelop and change the face of the region that was wrecked by a two-decade war, leaving many people without viable livelihoods.
The President noted that the already existing reconstruction interventions would be enforced further to realise real rehabilitation. “The government has the readiness and will to do everything to stop bad memories of the war among the people through reparations. We must have the will to help our people out of bondage,” the President said. The President pledge to help the construction of St. Philips Cathedral and other churches using the Northern Uganda Reconstruction Programme and others.
The Anglican missionaries journeyed up to Keyo via Agung in Anaka Sub-County, Nwoya District. At Agung, they knelt down to give thanks and pray and that is how the name Agung, which means kneeling, came about.
At Keyo village, a big cross (Musalaba) was planted as a monument for the missionaries’ arrival in Acholi. The cross lent its name to the village which is now commonly known as Musalaba village. It is located in Lamogi sub-county, Amuru district, about 11 km from Gulu District. The cross was destroyed during the war; sources say the man who looted this place was looking for mercury which was put as a lightening conductor.
The missionaries wrote on the concrete base of the cross a declaration to mark the spot saying (here, the gospel was preached to the people of Acholi in 1904. Another concrete block conveyed the same message in the Acholi language “Kany Gikwongo tucu iye Jiri bot jo Acholi 1904”
A memorial Shrine like the one at Namugongo has been built and officially opened.
Bishop Johnson Gakumba called on the Acholi’s sons and daughters who were educated by the Church to give back to the community by contributing towards the building of churches.
At least two Deacons were ordained and these are Rev. Nyeko Robert Luku and Rev. Merilyn Wilson –the first European to be ordained in the Diocese of Northern Uganda. While delivering his sermon the Assistant Bishop of London, Rt. Rev. Sandy Miller called on the Bishop together with the clergy to be strong like Joshua in the bible. The bishop said things can be done because of intercession. “Get Godly men and Women to pray for you” the Bishop Sunday said
Four Deacons were priested and these were Rev. Otto Zachariah, Rev. Olara James, Rev. Kibwota Samuel and Rev. Kevin Olweny.
As part of the day’s event, a medical camp was organized by Dr. Margaret Okello a consultant from Mulago Hospital assisted by fellow doctors and nurses from Kampala and Gulu. The Uganda Cancer Institute took their vehicle for screening people with cancer. The medical services were as a way of giving back to the community, because Dr. Margaret Okello comes from this area of Musalaba and she is one of the first Acholi girls to go to the University to do medicine.
Bishop Johnson together with his Guest Bishop Sunday Miller led a six kilometers walk that attracted more than one thousand people. This was to demonstrate the power of God on this land of Keyo Musalaba which had been abandoned and vandalized during the LRA war in Northern Uganda. A visit to this place will certainly show a changing face of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. Many people now see this as a new day-a new beginning in the history of the Anglican Church in northern Uganda. Already more than 16 churches are under construction.
A day before the celebration a mass wedding of 38 couples took place at Musalaba.

38 Wedded at Musalaba Shrine

Today Friday 25th November 2011 a total of 38 coupes got wedded at Musalaba Keyo by Bishop Johnson Gakumba assisted by Retired Bishop of Kitgum Diocese. This is part of the big celebration being held here at the place where the first Church missionaries’ society preached the Gospel to the Acholi people in 1904. While delivering his sermon, the Bishop Mac Baker Ochola 11 called upon the newly wedded couples to remain loving. Picking from the so many Acholi tales, the Bishop challenged the young generation to think carefully before choosing a partner, because some people are attracted because of beauty or money.
Tomorrow Saturday we will have ordination of deacons and priest and the preacher is Bishop Sandy Miller. One of those to be ordained is Merylin Wilson, who is a lay curate in London