Pajong clan rejects rumours of Archbishop Luwum’s exhumation

19 October 2026, 6:00 pm

By Odong James

The leader of Pajong, the clan of the late Archbishop Janani Luwum, has rejected renewed calls to relocate his remains, insisting that there is no agreement to exhume his body.

Mr Alari David told Tembo FM’s Lagam Pa Lwak on Friday that attempts to raise the matter date back to 1989, with similar discussions resurfacing in 2018 and December 2025, but without the clan’s approval.

Alari said the clan remained opposed to relocating the remains, arguing that efforts should instead focus on improving the welfare of the living and maintaining the dignity of existing graves, including that of Luwum’s mother, whose grave lies levelled in Pajong Village, Mucwini Sub-county.

Meanwhile, Kitgum District Chairperson Tony Blair Toolit said the exhumation of human remains must follow the applicable legal procedures. He added that he was not aware of any current plans to exhume the Archbishop’s body.

The Diocese of Kitgum has also previously dismissed reports of a relocation plan, saying its focus was on preparations for the 50th anniversary of Archbishop Luwum’s martyrdom, scheduled for 16 February 2027 at Wii Gweng in Mucwini Sub-county, Kitgum District.

Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was killed in 1977, remains one of Uganda’s most revered religious figures.