The Diocese of Lango has marked a significant milestone in commemorating the legacy of Archbishop Janani Luwum by hosting its first-ever public lecture, positioning the event as a platform for national reflection on faith, leadership, and identity. Organized in partnership with All Saints University Lango, the lecture took place at Canon Lawrence Campus in Lira City as part of the broader activities leading to the 49th memorial service.

A lecture rooted inlLegacy and national reflection

Church leaders framed the lecture as more than a commemorative event, but rather a strategic intellectual engagement aimed at reconnecting younger generations with Luwum’s moral courage, ministry, and national significance. The choice of venue carried historical symbolism, given its association with Luwum’s formative years and the values that shaped his leadership journey.

The gathering attracted a distinguished audience comprising university lecturers, church leaders, political figures, community representatives, and students from various institutions, reflecting the wide relevance of Luwum’s legacy across faith, academia, and public life.

Keynote emphasis on faith, repentance, and transformation

Delivering the keynote address, Rt. Rev. Ashley Null underscored the need for spiritual revival grounded in repentance, gratitude, and forgiveness. Speaking from the perspective of Christian discipleship, he encouraged believers to cultivate transformed hearts as the foundation for transformed communities and national renewal.

He noted that hosting the lecture in Luwum’s hometown carried deep intentional meaning, emphasizing that the Archbishop’s global recognition stemmed from his unwavering bravery in faith. Reflecting on Uganda’s progress over the years, he called for gratitude while also remembering Luwum’s suffering, urging Christians to let go of grievances in order to maintain focus on faith and purpose.

Bishop Alfred Olwa on integrity, vision, and holistic ministry

In his reflections, Bishop Prof. Alfred Olwa highlighted Luwum’s enduring integrity and values, describing him as a biblical leader whose ministry blended spiritual conviction with strategic foresight. He noted that Luwum was not only a pastor and prophet, but also an innovator who contributed to the Church’s institutional and economic vision, including laying the foundation stone for Church House.

Prof. Olwa further pointed to Luwum’s progressive academic outlook, recalling how he encouraged theology students to study development studies in order to better understand economic decline and African dependency. This, he argued, demonstrated Luwum’s holistic approach to faith, leadership, and societal transformation.

Justice James Ogoola on spiritual courage and martyrdom

Canon Justice Dr. James Ogoola, former Principal Judge and a respected public intellectual, offered a deeply spiritual reflection on Luwum’s life. He described the Archbishop as a man filled with faith and guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, whose courage he compared to that of Martin Luther.
Justice Ogoola portrayed Luwum as a pioneering martyr of modern times, whose steadfast witness continues to inspire both the Church and global Christian communities.

Olara Otunnu’s call for cultural and spiritual revival

Providing a broader socio-cultural perspective, Dr. Olara Otunnu challenged contemporary society, describing it as morally strained and in need of radical transformation anchored in the gospel. He urged Church leaders to speak truth with conviction rather than conform to popular expectations, emphasizing that authentic Christian leadership must guide society toward renewal.

Otunnu also raised concerns about cultural identity in modern worship, cautioning against the erosion of African expressions of faith. He encouraged believers to embrace local languages, indigenous instruments, and cultural authenticity, arguing that genuine Christianity should not be shaped by colonial perceptions but rooted in African identity. He described Luwum as both a man of faith and culture, whose life exemplified spiritual authenticity and cultural pride.

A convergence of faith, leadership, and national identity

Overall, the lecture consistently returned to its central theme of leadership, faith, and national identity, presenting Luwum’s life as a timeless model of moral courage, perseverance, and integrity in the face of power and adversity. Speakers emphasized that his legacy extends beyond church history into contemporary leadership, politics, and societal ethics.

As part of the wider commemorative activities under the Church of Uganda, the public lecture has set the tone for the 49th memorial observances, reinforcing Luwum’s enduring relevance in shaping conversations on spiritual revival, ethical leadership, and culturally grounded faith in modern Uganda.