A Catholic priest was violently killed in Uganda yesterday, August 18. Fr. Joshephat Kasambula from the diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana was murdered in cold blood yesterday evening. It is believed that the perpetrator is likely a person who may have had problems with drugs.

In the late afternoon of August 18, Fr. Joshephat went to oversee the work on a property where he allegedly met his killer, who was illegally on the farm. The priest asked the alleged killer who had authorized him to access the land and the house but stabbed him in the back with a blunt object. The Catholic priest died instantly.

According to some witnesses, the alleged killer is known to be a drug addict and is believed to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the murder. Witnesses reported that the Catholic priest had not visited the house and land that belonged to his family for several years. The alleged killer had taken advantage of the lack of control and had lived there for some time.

Fr. Joshephat Kasambula, 68, was the parish priest of Lwamata in the Kiyinda-Mityana diocese. The police have ordered an autopsy while the search for the fugitive killer continues.

The   Diocese of Kiyinda – Mityana is found in Kampala Ecclesiastical Province. It covers an area of 11,965sq Kms.

The Diocese comprises of the civil districts of Mubende, Mityana, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, and Gomba.  The Diocese was originally part of the Kampala Archdiocese.  It was erected on 17th July 1981, promulgated on 21st August 1981, and solemnly inaugurated on 22nd November 1981. The first Bishop was Bishop Emmanuel Wamala, now His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala who was consecrated a Bishop on the same day of the inauguration of the Diocese.

On 10th September 1988, Bishop Wamala was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala and was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Mukwaya who had been Auxiliary Bishop of Kampala Archdiocese. Bishop Mukwaya took canonical possession of the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana on 8th October 1988 becoming the second Bishop Ordinary of Kiyinda-Mityana.  Bishop Mukwaya received a Co-Adjutor Bishop, Msgr. Joseph Antony Zziwa who was consecrated Bishop on 16th March 2002. His Holiness Pope John Paul II allowed Bishop Mukwaya to retire from the responsibilities of Local See Ordinary and appointed Bishop Zziwa as Ordinary of the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana on 23rd October 2004.