Relatives free to install heirs of fallen priests

PIC: Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, together with his vicar General, Msgr Charles Kasibante lays a wreath on Fr Kiwanuka Katende's coffin. (Credit: Juliet Lukwago)

KAMPALA - Kampala Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has said that relatives are free to organise last funeral rites for fallen priests, nuns and religious brothers and install heirs and heiresses for them.

Archbishop Lwanga was answering a question raised by Emmanuel Magala, young brother to Rev Fr Achilles Kiwanuka Katende, who sought to know from him whether they could organise a last funeral occasion and install a heir to their elder brother Fr Kiwanuka, a long serving priest, who died on Monday at Rubaga Hospital.

Kiwanuka, who was serving at Mutundwe Catholic Parish in the suburbs of Kampala, died at the age of 68 following persistent intestinal strangulation.

He served in several parishes in Kampala Archdiocese and Kasana-Luweero. He was buried in the Rubaga priest's graveyard.

During the requiem mass, Lwanga said; "it's not bad at all for the relatives of a priest or any other religious person who has died to install a heir or heiress for the dead. The Catholic Church has never refused that rite to be held at all."

He explained that the church has always allowed the relatives to show and install the heir or heiress of the dead during the holy mass as long as they do it following the norms of the Catholic Church.

"The Catholic Church allows funeral rites for its religious because despite being religious, they also have responsibilities in their individual families. Moreover, some of them may be heirs or heiresses of their ancestors or other relatives."

Archbishop Lwanga hailed the late Fr Kiwanuka, describing him as a priest who has served the church wholeheartedly despite his age.

Lwanga said Kiwanuka was also influential in the preaching the word of God, which led many to love their religion. He also described him as a talented advisor, happy, humble and calm and also a teacher to almost all Christians.