TODAY *Sunday 8th December 2024,* I gave special thanksgiving to *God Almighty* in the majestic *new All Saints Cathedral Kampala* for *”JANANI: THE LAST STAND”* movie/film
It premiered yesterday, *Saturday 7th December 2024* in CENTURY CINEMA ACACIA MALL, Kampala.
The Guest of Honor: *HRH Silvia Nagginda Luswata, Queen of Buganda*.
Movie/Film Maker: *Matt & Catherine Bishanga, Directors of BishFilms*
I blew my *bila (horn)* at the premier. *Catherine,* daughter of my sister *Mrs Josca Ocaya Lakidi (RIP)*& *Prof Dent Ocaya Lakidi (RIP)* gave such a sharp yoddle *(“olengo kijira”)* that rent through the cocktail room. Then I proclaimed the praise of the Chosen Evangelican Revival (CER) *”Polo! Polo! Polo pa jo muyee”* (pak pa jo mulare/CER). And Catherine *”olengo”* yet another sharp *”kijira”*!
I said that was the _bila_ of CER in which *Janani Luwum* got saved on *6th January 1948.* I then acknowledged the *reconciling impact* of the movie *”JANANI: THE LAST STAND”*. How so?
The movie’s Director, *Matt Bish, a Munyankole*, and his Co-Producer wife, *Catherine Bish, a Muganda,* have made the film/movie about *JANANI LUWUM, the Acholi/Central Luo martyr*.
They invited *HRH Silvia Naginda Luswata, Queen of Buganda*, for Guest of Honor; and me, *Piwang-Jalobo, JoNAM/Central Luo,* to make brief remarks. Hence, the movie *JANANI: THE LAST STAND’s* making and premier brought *Banyankole, Baganda, Acholi and JoNAM/Central Luo, Iteso, Lango, Ba-Zungu, etc, together.*
In my brief remarks, I recalled *HRH’s appeal*– as *Patron of Christian Children’s Fund (CCF),* now Child Fund– for the *”suffering children of Northern Uganda” in 2003*:
_”Let us help the suffering children of Northern Uganda. *For their suffering is our suffering. Their pain is our pain. We are one people.”*_
I said that day of *2003* *HRH the Queen of Buganda became the Queen in “our Northern hearts”* I then invited *HRH Silvia Nagginda Luswata, the Queen of Buganda* to the *48th anniversary* commemoration of *Archbishop-Marty Janani Luwum* @Wii Gweng, *Mucwini* in Diocese of Kitgum (Anglican), on *16th February 2025*.
As a token of our invitation, I called up *Ben Okello Luwum*, son of Archbishop Janani Luwum; *Jane Okot p’Bitek Langoya,* daughter of Prof Okot p’Bitek; and *Winnie Lawoko Olwe,* daughter of Mzee Apollo Lawoko WodOkello: to present a special copy of WodOkello Lawoko’s book, *_Dungeons of Nakasero_* (2005), to *HRH the Queen of Buganda*–who was already *”Queen in our Northern hearts”*.
May the *48th anniversary* commemoration of *Archbishop-Martyr Janani Luwum* @Wii Gweng, Mucwini, on *16th February 2025* lift up *Jesus Christ, the proto-Martyr,* in Africa’s Great Lakes Region–esp in *his* former Province of *Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo (Boga-Zaire)!*
For it was *Jesus Christ, the proto-Martyr himself* who said:
_”And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people *(Ugandans, Rwandans, Burundians, Congolese, etc)* to myself. He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die.”_(John 12:32-33)
And when *Ugandans, Rwandans, Burundians and Congolese*, etc, are drawn closer to *Jesus Christ, the proto-Martyr lifted-up; we will also draw closer to one another–* this will mean *peace, justice and reconciliation in Africa’s Great Lakes Region.*
*@ George Piwang-Jalobo,* lay African Anglican theologian, St Paul’s Church of Uganda, Amor; Pakwach Town Parish; *JoNAM Archdeaconry*; Nebbi Diocese *(Anglican).*
