The body of Rev. Fr. Dr. Herman Kituuma was received at Kitovu Cathedral amid deep grief from fellow priests, religious leaders, family members and friends who gathered to pay their final respects.
He was received by the Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka, Severus Jjumba, who joined mourners in prayer as the Church remembered a priest widely respected for his humility, dedication and long service.
The funeral Mass was led by Msgr. Dr. Dominic Ssengooba, the Vicar General of the diocese, who described Fr. Kituuma as a true priest and a man deeply committed to serving God’s people at every level of ministry.
“He was a priest of the people,” Msgr. Ssengooba said, noting that Fr. Kituuma carried out his responsibilities with humility, calmness and a strong desire to guide and teach others. He added that the late priest was a pillar not only in Masaka but also in the wider Catholic Church in Uganda and beyond.
Fr. Kituuma is remembered as an outstanding teacher of the faith and a dedicated minister of the Sacraments. Many who worked with him said he was passionate about development and unity, often bringing people together to work for the good of the Church and society.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Lugalambi, a close friend of the deceased, shared an emotional account of Fr. Kituuma’s final days. He explained that after retiring in June 2023, the priest travelled to the United States for a period of rest. Shortly after arriving, he suffered a severe heart attack on his second day in the country and was rushed to hospital.
Doctors later discovered that about 98 percent of his heart had been damaged. According to the medical team, he had survived for many years through very small blood vessels that had formed on the upper part of the heart — a condition they described as extraordinary and almost miraculous.
Fr. Kituuma underwent three major surgeries, but the procedures were unsuccessful because the damage to his heart was too extensive. Medical examinations also revealed that his kidneys were failing.
Fr. Lugalambi said that when doctors informed him that the surgery might not succeed, Fr. Kituuma calmly accepted God’s will. His only request, he said, was that people continue praying for him at the altar during Mass.
After spending three months in hospital supported by four life-support machines, Fr. Kituuma expressed a desire to return home to Uganda so he could be among his people. Later that same year, he returned to the country.
However, his health continued to deteriorate and he spent most of his time in hospital. Eventually, both of his legs were amputated, forcing him to move with the help of a wheelchair.
Despite his condition, those close to him say he remained prayerful and strong in faith until his final moments. He eventually passed away peacefully after receiving the final prayers on Friday last week.
Following prayers at Kitovu Cathedral, his body was taken to Katigondo National Major Seminary, where he once served and mentored generations of priests.
Fr. Kituuma will be laid to rest today at Bukalasa Cemetery.
