Hundreds mourn priest murdered in US

Feb 24, 2015

People broke down in tears as three caskets bearing the bodies of a priest, his son and wife ...

By Hope Mafaranga and Abdulkarim Ssengendo

Everybody looked on in shock while others broke down in tears as three caskets bearing the bodies of a priest, his son and wife were rolled out of funeral vans in St. James’ Cathedral Ruharo yesterday.

Rev. Dr. Israel Ahimbisibwe, his wife Dorcus Kashanku Ahimbisibwe and their fiveyear- old son Jay Ahimbisibwe were found dead in their house in Houston, Texas, US late last month.

Their 19-year-old son, Isaac Tiharihondi, was later arrested and charged with the murder. The couple had three boys, Isaac, Emmanuel and Israel Junior.

The caskets remained closed as mourners were not allowed to look at their bodies but pictures.

“Please, open the caskets. We want to see if they contain the bodies of our children,” one of the mourners begged.

Dorcus’ siblings laying a wreath on her casket on Monday at St. James Cathedral Ruharo. PHOTO/Abdulkarim Ssengendo

Another one interjected: “How do we know whether we are burying the right people.”

“We are under instruction not to open the caskets because the bodies are not in good condition. The doctors told us not to attempt to open the caskets at any one time, not even for the parents to see,” an official from A-Plus Funeral Services, told New Vision.

Bishop of Ankole Diocese Dr. Sheldon Mwesigwa, Bishop of North Ankole Nathan Ahimbisibwe (who led the service) as well as retired bishops Elijah Kyamugambi and George Tibesigwa were among the hundreds of mourners in the church.

In his eulogy, Bishop Ahimbisibwe recalled their days in high school with Israel.
He narrated that at the school, it was Israel who taught them how to cook.

“We lived a good life even during the difficult times I knew I had Israel to lean on,” the cleric said, adding: “Israeli and his family have finished their mission on earth and we should all make peace with God so that we can live our lives like the Israel’s.”

Bodies of the slain family at St. James Cathedral Ruharo. PHOTO/Abdulkarim Ssengendo

Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi, who was Israel’s best man, said the deceased was a smart and organised man who knew what he wanted in the world.

Maria Engoru, who escorted the bodies from US, told the mourners not to judge the suspect.

“At the moment, we don’t know who killed Israel and his family. The good thing is that investigations are still going on and the truth will soon come out. Let us pray for Isaac instead of condemning him,” she said.

Apollo Kashanku, a brother of Dorcus, thanked the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Texas where the couple was working, saying it enabled the bodies to be brought back for a decent burial.

“The cost of bringing these bodies was over $100,000. If we did not have the support of their church, we would not have been able to bring them back,” Kashanku said.

The deceased will be laid to rest today at Israel’s ancestral home in Kateete, Masheruka in Sheema district.

Ahimbisibwe, 51, was vicar of Church of the Redeemer Episcopal in Houston, US.

Before moving to the US, he had been ordained in Uganda.

Bishop Nathan Ahimbisbwe officiating during the funeral service of Israel Ahimbisibwe, wife and son at St James Cathedral-Ruharo

Besides serving as a Vicar of Redeemer, Israel was College Missioner to the Centerburg Ministry at the University of Houston. He had a number of degrees, including a PhD.

Ahimbisibwe’s wife, Dorcus is the ninth born in her family.

She was pursuing her master’s degree in Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Mourners at the funeral service