Catholic priest found dead in Najjanankumbi

By Mathias Mazinga

A Catholic priest of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala was on Friday morning discovered dead at the roadside in Najjankumbi, near Kampala.

The Rev. Fr. Faustinus Kisomose, 50, was a curate at Lweza Catholic parish, where he had just been posted by Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

Fr. Kisomose’s body was discovered by some residents, who subsequently contacted the Police at Katwe.

The residents identified Kisomose by his identity card, which they found on his body. The Police later took Kisomose’s body to Mulago Hospital.

The exact cause and manner of Kisomose’s death has not yet been established.

But one resident (who preferred anonymity) suggested the priest was likely to have been strangled.

When contacted on phone, Fr. John Vianney Mugabo, the parish priest of Lweza explained: 

“I am just getting the news of Fr. Kisomose’s death from you. I am very shocked. I left my brother (Kisomose) at the presbytery as I went out with our colleague Fr. Benard Mpoza," he said.

"When I returned, I just went to my bedroom to sleep. Today I said the morning mass, unaware that my brother was not in the presbytery. But one of our support staff informed me that she saw him going out with two of his handbags, around 9:00pm. I am yet to know what really happened to my sacerdotal brother.”

The Chancellor of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala, Fr. Joseph Ssebunnya had also not yet received the news of Fr. Kisomose’s death by the time we contacted him on phone.

Born in Kankobe parish, in Mpigi district, Fr. Faustinus Kisomose was ordained a priest in 1997 (by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala). He was subsequently appointed to serve in parishes like   Gombe, Bbiina, Naggulu, Ndeeba and Lweza.

Fr. Francis Xavier Mpanga, a contemporary of Kisonmose, described him as a very brilliant piest, who always opted to keep a low-profile.

“When we were still at Kisubi Minor Seminary, Kisomose was unrivalled in academics. He always emerged top of the class in all subjects. He nonetheless did his things silently. He was extremely quiet. We shall always miss him.”

Fr. Kisomose’s burial arrangements have not yet been issued out.