MASAKA – The Catholic Church is in mourning following the passing of emeritus of Moroto Diocese, Henry Apaloryamam Ssentogo.
Bishop Ssentongo, 83, who hails from Masaka Diocese, died on Wednesday night following a long illness.
In his retirement, he has been living at Bikira Catholic Parish, Masaka Diocese about three years ago, he told PML Daily in an interview about his illness.
“I have a painful backbone and I’m not fit for active priestly work. I spend most of my time reading and resting,” he said then.
Bishop Ssentongo has been a member of the board of trustees of Joint Medical Store, Nsambya, Kampala, and member of the board of directors of Pax Insurance Ltd, Kampala.
Bishop Ssentogo attended Kalungu Primary School and Villa Maria Primary School before joining Bukalasa Seminary.
After Bukalasa Seminary, Ssentongo joined Katigondo Major Seminary for one and half years before he was offered a scholarship to Urban University in Rome in 1957. He was ordained on December 21, 1963.
He pursued further studies in Switzerland and Germany where he earned Masters of Philosophy, Theology, and in Law. No wonder, he is fluent in German, English, and Italian besides Luganda, his mother tongue.
He returned to Uganda in 1969 and was appointed curate at Matale Parish, Masaka Diocese before being appointed private secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda. Between 1976 and 1980 he was rector of Bukalasa Seminary.
From 1981 to 1988 he served as Secretary-General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and a year later was ordained auxiliary bishop of Masaka Diocese where he served for three years and he was appointed Moroto Diocese bishop.
He was Bishop of Moroto until 2014.