Celebrated Hymnodist Fr. Kabuye given glorious send-off

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Celebrated catholic church music composer Rev. Fr. Dr James Kabuye, who passed away at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya on September 16, has been interred.

His interment at Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral on Saturday (September 19) was preceded by a solemn requiem Mass presided over by the Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana (also the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference), the Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Antony Zziwa.

Grief-stricken Catholic nuns, priests and lay Christians viewing the body of Fr. James Kabuye ahead of the requiem mass. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The Mass was also concelebrated by Bishop Lawrence Mukasa of Kasana-Luweero Diocese, Bishop Serverus Jjumba of Masaka Diocese, and several other Catholic priests.

Delivering his homily during the requiem Mass, Prof. Joseph Antony Zziwa paid tribute to Fr. Kabuye, describing him as a multi-talented priest who served the Church with admirable loyalty and humility.

He said Kabuye’s music had enhanced the unity of the Christians and also enabled them to know and praise God with conviction.

Zziwa expressed deeper gratitude to the globally acclaimed 92-year-old Catholic musicologist, hymnodist and music educationist for helping the local Catholic congregations to transition from the absolute use of Latin during worship.

The joint choir of Kiyinda-Mityana diocese leading the singing during the funeral mass of FR. Dr James Kabuye at Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral on Saturday, September 19, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

He said Kabuye had composed many songs, which helped people to praise God in the local languages as recommended by Vatican Council II. He added that Kabuye’s music carried rich messages of peace and unity, before urging the Christians to assimilate them.

However, Zziwa cautioned Church music writers, choristers and choir trainers against the temptation of altering or rearranging Fr. Kabuye’s songs.

He said Kabuye wrote his songs after deep reflection on the scriptures, and also harmonised them in accordance with professional music standards, which was why it would be improper for anybody to make changes to them. He advised those who felt the need to alter the songs to compose their own.

The late Fr. Dr James Kabuye. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Prof. Zziwa also urged secular music and sports celebrities to moralise and dignify their talents and careers.

“God gives different talents to the people he chooses. To some, He gave physical strength, others beauty, and so forth. Whatever talent you have, whether you are an artiste, a footballer, a mechanic, an electric pole installer, ask yourself how you have used your talent or profession.  There are people who don’t mind their language! We should always ensure that what we sing in church is reflected in what we say and do,” he stressed.

Zziwa encouraged young people who have the talent of music to start composing liturgical songs for the Church. He also asked them to be ready to accept advice and guidance because every hymn written must be deemed to be in harmony with the scriptures and the social teaching of the Church.

Bishop Jjumba thanked Fr. Kabuye and his contemporaries, Joseph Kyagambiddwa (RIP), for introducing the technique of the Ganda yodels in Church music, a technique that he said brought out well the goodness and majesty of God.

The Catholic prelates, including Bishop Lawrence Mukasa of Kasana-Luweerp (fore-front), Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana (wearing a whitish mitre) and Bishop Serverus Jjumba of Masaka (third-right) sending off Fr. Dr. James Kabuye, during his burial at Kiyinda Mityana Cathedral on Saturday, September 19, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Jjumba encouraged Catholic choristers and music trainers to keep up the unique element of the Ganda music genre in order to preserve the solemnity and dignity of the Catholic divine liturgy.

On his part, Bishop Mukasa said Fr. Kabuye had proved to be a unifier of God’s people, during his life and also during his death.

According to Mukasa, the deceased cleric had worked in various dioceses of Kampala Ecclesiastical Province, which include Kampala, Kasana-Luweero, Masaka, Kiyinda-Mityana, and Lugazi.

Multitudes of mourners gathered at Kiyinda-Mityana to send off Fr. Kabuye. The newly-appointed Chairman of the Kampala Ecclesiastical Province Music Committee, Fr. Charles Kabanda, highlighted the need for Fr. Kabuye’s liturgical songs in the Luganda hymnal, Mujje Tutendereze Omukama, to be notated, so that they are sung properly by the successive generations of Church choristers.

Grief-stricken Catholic priests during the burial of their senior brother Fr. Dr James Kabuye, at Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral on Saturday, September 19, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Other Catholic Prelates, including Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere of Kampala Archdiocese, Bishop Christopher Kakooza of Lugazi, Superiors of religious congregations such as the Bannabiikira Sisters and the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and members of the diplomatic corps such as Ambassador John Chrysostom Nsambu, sent condolence messages in which they expressed deep admiration for Fr. Kabuye and his ecclesial music ministry.

Fr. Kabuye’s requiem mass was animated by the mass choir of Kiyinda-Mityana diocese, which specially honoured him by singing only his hymns. There were emotional scenes and abrupt jolts of ululation and clapping as the coffin bearing Kabuye’s remains was carried shoulder-high from the cathedral to the clerical cemetery.

Fr. Kabuye’s burial was also graced by several politicians, including Lands minister Judith Nabakooba, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, and Mityana District Chairperson Joseph Luzige.