Last Thursday, national attention turned yet again to the little village of Mucwini in the northern district of Kitgum, as Uganda marked the Janani Luwum day (See Luwum: Uganda honours icon of courage, The Observer, February 16).
In 2015, February 16 was declared a national holiday in honour of Janani Jakaliya Luwum, the former Ugandan Anglican archbishop who was murdered in 1977.Â
Luwum was killed because he was a thorn in the flesh of the Idi Amin regime – arguably the darkest chapter of Uganda’s history. The government then said Luwum had died in an accident; that story would later change to him having been shot as he tried to escape from lawful detention.
The manner of his death at the hands of the state is a constant reminder that the guns security agents use to protect us are also used to kill us; that the minders can also be the murderers.
Yet it is also a reminder of the critical role of voices of justice and fairness in increasingly difficult times. Often, religious leaders find themselves having to speak out about controversial political issues, only to be criticized by politicians for taking sides in partisan politics.
The fact that we are honouring Janani Luwum suggests that such criticism needs to be treated with due suspicion. Yes, we do not want the pulpit become a political campaign podium; but religious leaders should see themselves as part of civil society, fighting for the public good and speaking out for the downtrodden.
Religious leaders cannot only preach spirituality and turn the other way as rights of the weak are trampled on, as national wealth is abused, as societies go off the rails. Religious leaders, presumably working for the the common good rather than selfish gain, should take inspiration from Luwum’s courageous voice.
Politicians may not like it when religious leaders speak out on thorny issues; but provided faith and other civil society leaders are deploying their voice for the public good, history will judge them kindly, and their societies will be better for it.
