Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day honors the life and legacy of Archbishop Janani Luwum, a prominent Anglican leader who was martyred in 1977 for courageously standing up against the brutal regime of Idi Amin.

When is Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day?

Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day is celebrated every year on February 16.

The following is the list of Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day?

Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day is a national public holiday in Uganda dedicated to the memory of Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was assassinated in 1977 for speaking out against the brutal regime of President Idi Amin.

Janani Luwum was born in 1922 in Kitgum District, northern Uganda. Luwum rose through the ranks of the Anglican Church and was appointed Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire in 1974.

As a religious leader, Luwum became a strong moral voice during a time of widespread political oppression under the dictatorship of Idi Amin.

Luwum used his position to publicly criticize the Ugandan government for its human rights violations, killings and corruption. He especially condemned the military's brutality and the enforced disappearances of civilians.

In February 1977, he and other church leaders delivered a protest letter directly to President Amin. Soon after delivering the letter, Luwum was arrested under false charges of treason.

On February 16, 1977, he was killed. The government claimed it was a car accident, but it was later revealed he had been shot in the mouth at close range.

His murder shocked the world and drew strong condemnation from religious leaders and governments across the globe. Luwum's death symbolized the courage of faith leaders standing up for justice, even at the cost of their lives.

In 1998, he was recognized by the Church of England with a statue at Westminster Abbey in London, as one of the 20th-century martyrs.

In 2015, the Ugandan government officially declared February 16 a public holiday to honor Archbishop Luwum's sacrifice.