KAMPALA — 1977 · Suspicious Death

The Death of Archbishop Janani Luwum

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

Janani Luwum, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, was arrested on 16 February 1977 along with two cabinet ministers, after he had delivered a protest note against the Idi Amin regime's arbitrary killings and disappearances. The next day state radio announced that the three had died in a car accident while trying to escape. But the body returned to his family bore gunshot wounds, and Henry Kyemba, then health minister, later wrote that the bodies had been riddled with bullets. Luwum is honoured as a martyr by the Anglican Communion and his statue stands on the façade of Westminster Abbey in London. Since 2015 Uganda has marked 16 February as a public holiday.

Date: 1977
Place: Uganda, Kampala, UG
Category: Suspicious Death
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 0.3136, 32.5811 ↗

Timeline of Events

February 1977Luwum delivered a protest note to the regime.
16 February 1977He was arrested with two ministers.

17 February 1977State radio announced the deaths as a car accident.
201516 February became Janani Luwum Day, a public holiday in Uganda.

Sources

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