By Spy Uganda
Radio Sapientia’s founding presenter and veteran journalist John Sentongo has Wednesday been laid to rest at his ancestral burial grounds in Nakasajja village, Kiwumu in Mukono district.
Sentongo who has been popularly known as Mwana Mulenzi John Ssentongo, his studio name, succumbed to pulmonary embolism according to the postmortem report from Mulago hospital on September 29, 2019 at around 8.00 am.
Pulmonary embolism is a condition that causes a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in one’s lungs.
In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or, rarely, other parts of the body.
Ssetongo served Radio Sapientia since its inception on June 3rd, 2001:when the radio went on air.
He had also participated in the ground breaking preparations that included formulation of programs, conducting of interviews among other responsibilities along with the first Managing Director of Radio Sapientia Fr. Anthony Matovu.
He was known for his favorite programs ‘Memories and More’, which featured old school songs and ‘Muyizi Akuuma’ with Br. Anatoli Wasswa of the Banakaloli Brothers among other programs he presented whenever the need arose.
The staff of Uganda Catholic Secretariat including Radio Sapientia friends and listeners converged at St. Peter’s Parish Nsambya for a requiem mass to bid him farewell in appreciation of his evangelical contribution through his radio programs.
Rev. Fr. John Baptist Kaganda the executive secretary for Pastoral Liturgical Commission at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat, took the reading from 1st Sirach 38:16-22, which indicates that at the time of death a humble servant deserves a peaceful and honorable send-off, which Ssentongo deserved because of his enormous contribution to demystifying the beliefs in witchcraft that has been coupled with theft, coning people and doing other sorts of evil like human sacrifices.
The head of listeners Mr. Ponsiano Pule, Mr. Patricko Mujjuka and Fr. Anatoli Wasswa and commended the contribution of Sentongo to the Radio and Uganda at large; his simple personality enabled him to fulfill his obligation to changing society for better.
The Station Manager of Radio Sapientia Williams Mukisa Sserwadda described Sentongo as a person who cherished proficiency in his programs ready for advising and presentation of new ideas, virtues that were credited by the Managing director Fr. Euctachius Lwemalika and the entire staff of Radio Sapientia.
The Secretary-General Uganda Episcopal Conference Msgr. John Baptist Kauta in a speech read for him by Msgr. Francis Ndamira, the national director Caritas Uganda, praised Sentongo, for preserving the culture of truth through his programs with Bro. Anatoli, to change people’s attitudes and understanding of culture and religion.
He encouraged fellow staff members to emulate him but above all stay committed to the mission of Radio Sapientia being the source of wisdom to proclaim the gospel and evangelize the world.
The late John Sentongo 49, is survived by a widow and 12 children
