Episcopal Press and News
Bishop Allin Renews Call for Uganda Probe
Episcopal News Service. March 3, 1977 [77083]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- In the wake of reports of continuing purges against Uganda Christians, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has renewed his plea for an international investigation into the death of Archbishop, Janani Luwum, and the whole spectrum of human rights in Uganda.
Archbishop Luwum, who was the archbishop of the province that includes Uganda, was arrested by the government of Uganda and accused by President Idi Amin of involvement in an alleged coup attempt. Within a day, Uganda reported that the Archbishop -- and the two men accused with him -- had been killed in an automobile accident.
The claim raised immediate skepticism among church and civic leaders throughout the world and a call for a full, open investigation. Subsequently, many stories surfaced which claim that the archbishop was murdered, possibly by Amin himself.
In his statement, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin said that "the tragic and most cruel murder of the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Rev. Janani Luwum, with two Ugandan Ministers of State, shocks the consciences of all human beings committed to freedom, justice and peace. "
He calls Archbishop Luwum a "contemporary martyr -- a man of God who refused to compromise his faith for personal safety," and asserts that "an impressive and trustworthy number of international witnesses could be assembled to testify on his behalf against the false charges of which he has been accused."
Noting that others "have been massacred or cruelly persecuted in recent months," the Presiding Bishop stated "we encourage our government and the United Nations to call President Amin to account. We ask other governments supporting the present regime in Uganda to reconsider their policies. We ask that all Americans who are committed to freedom, justice and peace speak out against such monstrous tyranny and oppression."
Bishop Allin was joined in his call by a number of fellow Episcopal Bishops, including the Rt. Rev. George D. Browne of Liberia and the Rt. Rev. C. Kilmer Myers of California.
In a pastoral letter read throughout the Diocese of Liberia on Ash Wednesday, Bishop Browne referred to the roots of the Ugandan Anglican Church and to the early martyrs there and added: "In recent years, its clergymen and layleaders were virtually massacred during the blood bath which brought President Amin to power. Now its Archbishop has been assassinated for witnessing to the faith. He was a man of God and we rejoice that he did not compromise his faith for personal safety."
Bishop Myers, in his pastoral letter which was to be read in diocesan churches on Feb. 27 or March 6, calls on people to respond to the deaths by communicating to United Nations, and United States officials and to the governments that supply Amin with needed weapons, fuel or money.
In his statement, Bishop Myers said:
"The death of Archbishop Luwum at the very hands of Idi Amin Dada, that murderous dictator in Uganda, calls every human being -- and particularly every Christian -- to new awareness and new resolution to strive and work for the human rights of all people, be they near or far. Our world can no longer tolerate indiscriminate obliteration of the poor, the oppressed, or those living under constant threat of death. This is especially true in Uganda where Amin claims to be acting on the instructions of God Himself, as he annihilates hundreds and thousands. Though Uganda is half-a-world away, the murders there concern us here because the oppressed are our brothers and sisters, wherever they happen to live."
