Chief Justice urges the Christian community and Acholi to forgive Idi Amin clan

Uganda’s Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, has re-echoed the need for reconciliation and forgiveness of the late Idi Amin’s clan by the Acholi community over the death of Archbishop St Janani Luwum nearly 50 years ago.

Luwum was the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda from 1974 until his assassination in 1977.
It has been widely reported that Luwum was killed on the orders of then-President Idi Amin.
The clergyman, who would be a centenarian today, was vocal in his criticism against the regime’s excesses.
In celebration of Luwum’s work and life, February 16 was set aside as a public holiday in Uganda in his honour.
On Friday, Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo was the chief guest during the national celebrations of St Janani Luwum Day at Wii–gweng in Mucwini sub-county in Kitgum district.
Speaking not far from Luwum’s burial site where he lies next to his late wife Mary, Owiny-Dollo said the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the reconciliation arrangements that had already been set in motion.
He said the members of the Kakwa clan into which Idi Amin was born had openly apologized to the Christian fraternity over the act of their son.

The Chief Justice, therefore, asked Kitgum Diocese Bishop Emeritus, McLeod Baker Ochola, and other bishops in Lango and Acholi sub-regions to help spearhead the process of reconciliation and forgiveness.
The aim for this process is to restore everlasting peace and harmony between the Kakwa and Acholi people.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu graced the occasion and appealed to the government through the education ministry to reopen the teachers’ college in Lira, where Luwum studied to become a teacher.
Kaziimba said the college, closed many years ago, should be reopened in memory of Janani Luwum.