Masaka, Uganda | The Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka has announced the death of Rev. Fr. Herman Kituuma, a respected Catholic priest and former rector of Katigondo National Major Seminary, who passed away on Friday at Lubaga Hospital in Kampala.
In a death announcement dated March 6, 2026, the Bishop of Masaka, Severus Jjumba, said the priest died earlier in the day.
Fr. Kituuma was ordained a priest for the Masaka Diocese on August 15, 1984 and served the Church for over four decades in various pastoral and formation roles.
He is best remembered for his long service as rector of Katigondo National Major Seminary, one of the country’s leading institutions for priestly formation. He held the position from 2007 until his retirement in July 2023.
During his tenure, church leaders say he championed self-reliance initiatives at the seminary, encouraging agricultural activities to support the institution’s operations and sustainability.
Fr. Kituuma also played a significant role in the formation of seminarians, guiding thousands of young men preparing for priesthood in Uganda.
Many of the seminarians he mentored have since become priests and bishops serving in different dioceses within and beyond the country.
The death announcement was signed by the diocesan chancellor, Charles Jude Jjuuko, on behalf of the bishop.
According to the statement, the funeral will take place on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Bukalasa Minor Seminary.
A requiem Mass will be held at midday before the burial.
Church leaders and faithful have described the late priest as a committed servant of God who dedicated much of his life to priestly formation and the growth of the Catholic Church.
Fr. Kituuma’s passing marks the loss of a prominent figure in Uganda’s Catholic clergy, particularly in the area of seminary leadership and pastoral formation.
