Father Obunga dead
Apr 28, 2005
GRIEF engulfed Nsambya Catholic Secretariat yesterday following the death of the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Dr. Joseph Obunga.
By Hillary Nsambu
GRIEF engulfed Nsambya Catholic Secretariat yesterday following the death of the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Dr. Joseph Obunga.
Obunga, 54, died yesterday at 4:00am at Nsambya Hospital where he had been admitted about two hours earlier.
Sources at the secretariat said Obunga collapsed at his home after midnight.
It is suspected that he suffered a minor stroke and was rushed to the hospital at about 1:00am.
Four priests who were beside his hospital bed anointed him at about 2:00am shortly after his doctors had indicated to them that his life was diminishing.
“A few minutes after he had received the last sacrament, Obunga died,†one of the priests told mourners.
Yesterday, the sombre staff of the secretariat stood in groups mourning Obunga as relatives, who thronged the secretariat, wailed.
At around 11:30am, the body was driven from the hospital to his residence in Nsambya, where a short memorial service was held.
Obunga, who has been secretary general of the Catholic bishops since 1997, was born on January 7, 1951 to the late Desiderio Erichi and the late Lea Awori at Katende in Mpigi district.
He studied at St Joseph’s Primary School, Katende before joining Nswanjere Preparatory Seminary. He then joined Kisubi seminary, after which he went to Katigondo Major seminary in Masaka. He finished at Gaba National Seminary.
Obunga was ordained priest on December 12, 1976 at Lubaga Cathedral.
According to a tentative programme released yesterday, a requiem mass will be held at Lubaga cathedral today at 12:00pm.
Ends
GRIEF engulfed Nsambya Catholic Secretariat yesterday following the death of the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Dr. Joseph Obunga.
Obunga, 54, died yesterday at 4:00am at Nsambya Hospital where he had been admitted about two hours earlier.
Sources at the secretariat said Obunga collapsed at his home after midnight.
It is suspected that he suffered a minor stroke and was rushed to the hospital at about 1:00am.
Four priests who were beside his hospital bed anointed him at about 2:00am shortly after his doctors had indicated to them that his life was diminishing.
“A few minutes after he had received the last sacrament, Obunga died,†one of the priests told mourners.
Yesterday, the sombre staff of the secretariat stood in groups mourning Obunga as relatives, who thronged the secretariat, wailed.
At around 11:30am, the body was driven from the hospital to his residence in Nsambya, where a short memorial service was held.
Obunga, who has been secretary general of the Catholic bishops since 1997, was born on January 7, 1951 to the late Desiderio Erichi and the late Lea Awori at Katende in Mpigi district.
He studied at St Joseph’s Primary School, Katende before joining Nswanjere Preparatory Seminary. He then joined Kisubi seminary, after which he went to Katigondo Major seminary in Masaka. He finished at Gaba National Seminary.
Obunga was ordained priest on December 12, 1976 at Lubaga Cathedral.
According to a tentative programme released yesterday, a requiem mass will be held at Lubaga cathedral today at 12:00pm.
Ends