Fr Gaetano retires from active priesthood

The 80-year-old marked this significant milestone with a thanksgiving event held at the parish headquarters in Kashambya Sub-county, Rukiga District.

KABALE | After 50 years of devoted service, The Rev Fr Gaetano Batanyenda, the parish priest of Kitanga in Kabale Diocese, has decided to retire from active priesthood.

The 80-year-old marked this significant milestone with a thanksgiving event held at the parish headquarters in Kashambya Sub-county, Rukiga District.

Monsignor Vianney Sunday, the vicar-general of Kabale Diocese, oversaw the ceremony and announced that The Rev Fr Marious Byamukama would assume the role of parish priest, succeeding Fr Batanyenda.

During the event, Wilfred Niwagaba, MP for Ndorwa East County, and Roland Bish Ndyomugenyi, for Rukiga County, commended Batanyenda for not only spreading the Gospel but also for promoting a culture of saving within the community.

They acknowledged his efforts in establishing the Rukiga Savings and Credit Cooperative Society, which played a pivotal role in fostering this saving culture.

The legislators joined the congregants in praising Batanyenda for his anti-corruption advocacy, although they lamented the prevalence of corruption as he retired.

At the gathering, more than Shs70 million was collected in both cash and pledges to fund the construction of parish offices, honouring Batanyenda's legacy.

In his speech, Batanyenda expressed gratitude for the support and urged well-wishers to assist his successor in furthering the parish's development. He cited health reasons for his decision to request retirement from the Kabale Diocesan Bishop.

Despite his affiliation with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, Fr Batanyenda is notable for openly criticizing President Yoweri Museveni for his perceived failure to address corruption among government officials.

Born on December 24, 1944, to Anantoli Tabwendero and Enfrazia Nyakweshe in Makiro Parish, then under the pastoral care of the Comboni Missionaries, Fr Batanyenda began his education at Rutenga Primary School in Rutenga Sub-county, Kanungu District, in 1957.

His father served as a catechist at Makiro parish, and Batanyenda also served as an altar boy.

He pursued further studies at St Paul’s Seminary Kabale in 1965 and later in philosophy at Katigondo National Major Seminary for two years.

Subsequently, he continued his theological studies at Ggaba National Seminary until August 1976.