Thomas Mussolini Tokwiny, a 66-year-old pilgrim, began a 588-kilometer walk from Kampala on Monday, January 26, to mark the 49th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Janani Luwum, the former Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, who was killed in 1977.
Tokwiny set off in the early morning hours from St. Peter’s Church, Naguru, and walked 46 kilometers to his first stopover at St. Janani Luwum Secondary School in Bombo.
Yesterday, he covered another 60 kilometers before resting at Katugo Church of Uganda in Luwero District.
By the time of the interview with Favour fm today morning, Tokwiny had reached Wabigalo at Nakasongola District, and says he intended to walk an additional 60 kilometers before resting at Migyeera.
This marks the fourth year Tokwiny has undertaken pilgrimages in memory of Uganda’s saints and blessed.
He says the pilgrimage is a personal act of thanksgiving to God for protecting him during his 45 years of service as a driver in northern Uganda, particularly during the period when the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was attacking civilians and ambushing vehicles.
Tokwiny explained that through the walk, he seeks to honor St. Janani Luwum’s legacy of faith, courage, and resistance to injustice, while encouraging believers to emulate his witness, similar to the annual pilgrimages to Namugongo in honor of the Uganda Martyrs.
St. Janani Luwum, who served as Archbishop from 1974 until his death, is remembered for openly criticizing human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings during the regime of former president Idi Amin.
He was arrested and killed on February 16, 1977, and was canonized as a martyr by the Anglican Church in 2016.
The 49th anniversary will be commemorated under the theme: “Anchored in Christ for Stability, Peace and Unity,”drawn from Ephesians 2:14–17.
By URN
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