New Archbishop Elected in Uganda
Episcopal News Service. March 24, 1977 [77103]
KAMPALA, Uganda -- A successor to Anglican Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was killed after being accused in an alleged plot against President Idi Amin, has been elected by the House of Bishops of the Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire.
Bishop Silvanus Goi Wani, 61, of the Diocese of Madi and West Nile, and dean of the province, was chosen to head the 17-diocese province.
It was reported by the government of Uganda that Archbishop Luwum died in an automobile accident, along with two government ministers -- both of whom were Christians -- in mid-February when they were being transported to an interrogation session. Some Church and world leaders have charged that the three were murdered as part of a systematic campaign to kill Christians in Uganda.
Bishop Brian Herd, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland -- the last remaining white Anglican bishop of the Ugandan Church -- was expelled from the country following Archbishop Luwum's death. Four other Anglican bishops fled the country after hearing that their names were on a "death list."
The archbishop-elect was among 15 of the Anglican bishops who joined Archbishop Luwum in signing a long protest letter to President Amin, complaining of the government's treatment of Christians.
Bishop Wani was ordained a priest in 1944 in what was then the Diocese of the Upper Nile and served as honorary canon in that diocese from 1958 to 1961. He was secretary of the Diocese of Northern Uganda 1961-1964.
He was consecrated Assistant Bishop of Northern Uganda in 1964 and later that year was elected bishop of that diocese. He became Bishop of the Diocese of Madi and West Nile in 1969.
In the meanwhile, it has been reported that Mrs. Mary Luwum, widow of the late archbishop, has arrived safe in Kenya after a secret escape from Uganda. Kenya sources reported that Mrs. Luwum had arrived with her five children and five other Ugandan Christian refugees and was living near Lake Victoria.
In a statement to the Church Times of London, Bishop Herd denied reports that the Anglican Church in Uganda was in a state of collapse. "The strength of the Ugandan Church lies in the whole body of believing Christians even if some of the leaders are missing," he said. "The life is within the whole membership. Far from collapsing, the Church is vigorous, vibrant and of steadfast faith. Churches are packed to the doors, people are finding Christ and God's work is going forward."