Heart attack ends Katongole's 55 years of priesthood

A long-serving Catholic priest of Kampala Archdiocese, Fr Peter Byangwa Katongole (85) was laid to rest at St. Peter's Catholic Church Graveyard at Nsambya on Friday.

Father Peter Byangwa Katongole, died Thursday morning at Mulago Heart Institute.

The burial was attended by hundreds of mourners, some from different dioceses.

According to chancellor of Kampala Archdiocese, Fr. Dr. Pius Ssentubwe Male, at the time of his death, Byangwa was at Naguru Parish.

Fr Byangwa, 85, was the former parish priest of Katende, curate of Christ the King Kampala for a long time from 1998-2015. But before his appointment after ordination was at Kamuli in 1963 when it was still under Kampala Diocese under Mill-Hill, before it was combined with Rubaga to become Kampala Archdiocese.

Later in 1965, he was transferred to Naddangira up to 1970 and in 1972, he was assigned to teach at Nyenga Seminary again. He taught Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (now archbishop Lwanga), Fr Fredrick Kazibwe and others.

In 1975, he became the Parish priest of Nsambya Parish for three years, and in 1978 he went back to teach mathematics to Nyenga for one year.

In 1979 Byangwa was appointed a parish priest of Bugonga-Entebbe and dean of Entebbe up to 1988. In 1989, he became a chaplain of Sisters of Nkokonjeru.

In 1990, he was transferred to be a curate (assistant Parish priest) of Bbulo Parish, and in 1996 he became the parish priest of Katende Parish then in 1998 was transferred to be a curate of Christ the King in Kampala where he served up to 2015 until transferred to St Jude Catholic Parish Naggulu to rest. 

Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga hailed Fr Byangwa, saying he had served well the Catholic Church without blemish. He asked the priest to emulate Fr Byangwa's exemplary life.

"Fr Byangwa found us at Nyenga Seminary where he was appointed and was our mathematics teacher," he said.

Meanwhile, Fr. Joseph Kaseeta, the curate of Naggulu Parish, also praised him saying that he was a dedicated priest and was a pinup to us all. He was always a happy man who never got angry with anyone.

Fr. Pius Ssentubwe Male said Byangwa was born on October 3, 1934, to Yoana Petro Kaggwa and Veronica Kaggwa at Kkonge-Lukuli near Ggaba in Kampala District. Later the family migrated to Kavule Mwererwe and now in Luweero.