The Catholic Church has paid tribute to Fr Dr Edward Ssonko Kitandwe, the Latin language expert and musician, who succumbed to Covid-19 at Kisubi Hospital on Saturday (January 23), aged 61.

Dr Ssonko, a long-serving teacher of Latin and music at Kisubi Minor Seminary (Wakiso district), was honored during the requiem mass at Lubaga Cathedral on Tuesday, January 26.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga described Fr Ssonko as a faithful priest, who had served the Church with admirable devotion.

The prelate also paid tribute to Ssonko for his contribution to the development of Catholic liturgy, especially in 2001-2017, when he headed the liturgy and sacred music department of Kampala Archdiocese.

“Fr Ssonko used well the many talents that God gave him. He spoke several languages: Latin, German, Italian, English and Swahili. He also had expertise in local languages such as Luganda, which he always spiced with interesting idioms.”

Fr Ssonko was also praised by his younger brother Stephen Nawuba, who admired his leadership and generosity.

“As a family, we are very grateful to God for the gift of Fr Ssonko. As the heir of our father, he provided good leadership and guidance, which enabled the family to move on and develop. He had amazing generosity commitment to children. Our brother Fr Ssonko also cherished education and social development. He started and supported many local development initiatives. He also started and sat on various school boards.”

A brief on Fr Edward Ssonko

The Rev Fr Dr Edward Ssonko was born on August 25, 1959. He is the son of the late Juliet Namayanja and Stephen Byekwaso, who lived at Ggoli, Mawokota, in Mpigi district.

He attended Ggoli Primary School (1965-69), Kanyike Primary School (1970-72), Lubaga Secondary School (1973-76), St Mbaaga’s Major Seminary Ggaba (1978-86), Salesians University, Rome (1990-93) and Seminario Vescovile, Rome (1994-98).

Ordinations

Ssonko was elevated to Sub-Deaconate at St Mbaaga’s Major Seminary Ggaba (by Bishop Joseph Mukwaya) on July 15, 1984.

He was ordained a Deacon, by Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga (at St Mbaaga’s Major Seminary) on February 16, 1986. Ssonko was consequently ordained a priest (by Cardinal Nsubuga) at Lubaga Cathedral on September 21, 1986.

Subsequent to his priestly ordination, Ssonko was appointed to Kisubi Minor Seminary, where he has spent all his priestly life, save the 8 years he spent in Rome doing advanced studies in Latin (1990-98).

Further to his teaching career at Kisubi, Ssonko also served as the chaplain of the Brothers of Christian Instruction Scholasticate (2011-2021).