By Peter Sebulime
The Catholic Church in Uganda is mourning the death of the retired Bishop of Moroto Diocese, Henry Ssentongo.
Bishop Ssentongo died at the age of 83 on Wednesday night at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala.
The sad news has been confirmed by the Secretary General of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta in a phone interview with Spy Uganda.
Born in Kalungu District, Bishop Ssentongo went to Kalungu Primary School and Villa Maria Primary School before joining Bukalasa Minor Seminary and later Katigondo Major Seminary from where he got a scholarship to study at Urban University in Rome in 1957.
He also pursued further studies in Switzerland and Germany where he got a Masters of Philosophy, Theology, and in Law respectively.
He was ordained priest in December 1963 and served in different capacities under Masaka Diocese, including being a private secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda and from 1976 to 1980, he was rector of Bukalasa Seminary.
Bishop Ssentongo served as Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference from 1981 to 1988 when he was later named the Auxiliary Bishop of Masaka during the reign of Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu.
While in Masaka, among the notable roles he performed included ordaining to priesthood the reigning Bishop of Masaka Diocese Rt. Rev. Serverus Jumba in 1992.
In 1992, Ssentongo was appointed Bishop of Moroto replacing the late Bishop Paul Kalanda who had been transferred to Fort Portal.
Upon retirement, Bishop Ssentongo chose to return to Masaka Diocese, settling at Bikira Parish where he has been living in active retirement.
