Bishop Oyanga to be buried on Thursday

The former bishop of Lira Rt Rev Joseph Oyanga is set for burial on Thursday.
His personal doctor, Fr Dr Sam Okori said Oyanga had for sometime developed difficulty in breathing and passing out urine before he was admitted.
“All along he has been getting treatment until Sunday when the situation went out of hand and he had his last breath,” Dr Okori said.
Bishop Oyanga, 82 succumbed to congestive cardiac failure on Sunday at St Anthony Hospital Tororo.
Tororo archdiocese has joined their counterparts in Lira Catholic Diocese, where Oyanga last served before retirement, to mourn him. The archdiocese has described Bishop Oyanga as God fearing and hardworking.

The Vicar General of Tororo Archdiocese Rev. Kevin Musisi described him as a great shepherd and teacher whose death is a big blow to the Catholic Church.
“At the time, the deceased was a teacher at Nagongera Seminary and St Paul’s College Mbale. He made sure his students got interested in the subject he taught and this made everyone who passed through his hands pass his subject with distinction,” he said.

Rev Musisi said they will hold a farewell mass for the deceased at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Nyangole in Tororo in recognition of his contribution to the development of the archdiocese.
“We will hold a farewell mass before the body will be taken to Lira Bishops Ground where he is expected to be buried,” he said.

When contacted, the Vicar Lira Diocese, Rev Desderio Pule Olima said the burial preparations were in high gear and added: “He was a peace maker, a parent, a counsellor, who spent most of the time associating with his flock. He was a pillar in the Catholic Church.”
Mrs Santa Okii, a close relative said Bishop Oyanga's death is setback to the family because he was a uniting factor. The deceased will be laid to rest on Thursday at the Bishops Ground in Lira Diocese.

Background

Bishop Oyanga was born on February 28, 1936 in Omoro village in Lira District. He was ordained a priest at Tororo Diocese on May 19, 1963. He worked in Tororo Diocese until July 14, 1989 when he was elected the second bishop of Lira Diocese.
October 1, 1989 he was ordained bishop of Lira Diocese and late retired in December 2, 2003 after aged 75.

Burial programme

Tuesday, the archdiocese of Tororo will hold a requiem mass at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Nyangole Tororo at 11 am.

In the afternoon the body leaves for Alanyi parish (his home parish) in Lira Diocese.

On Wednesday, July 25, 2018, the body will be taken to Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Lira Diocese for a requiem mass and public viewing.

Thursday July 26, 2018, he will be laid to rest at Lira Diocese Bishops Ground.