Hundreds of Christians have gathered at Father Hilders Primary School in Soroti City to pay their last respect to Soroti Catholic Diocese Bishop Emeritus Erasmus Desiderius Wandera.
Bishop Emeritus was Enthroned Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese in 1981 and retired in 2007.
He died on Thursday December 8, 2022 at his residence in Mbale City and will buried today inside Immaculate Conception Cathedral church according to the Church doctrines.
Present in the Funeral Mass include the Vice President of Uganda Jessica Alupo, FDC Party President Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Retired Bishop’s of the Anglican Church George William Erwau, Benard Obaikol.
Others include; The Papal Nuncio to Uganda Luigi Bianco, Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, the Catholic priest and reverend sisters.
The Holy Mass is being led by His Grace Emmanuel Obbo AJ the Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese.
While giving his remarks His Grace Obbo, asked Christians to render respect to the founding Bishop.
“We know what he past through and Wandera’s life has influenced many people who encountered with him. His life had influence in our lives, so dear mourners Bishop Erasmus is with us and will never die. He is in our memory, walls, hands and others,” Obbo said.
He added that, His memories and achievements will remain to be talked. 
“Bishop Erasmus was not a good lover of cheap popularity. He was a Bishop of straight talk. Bishop knew how to make it. And was confident on what he wanted to do,” Archbishop Obbo recalls.
He also urged the christians to continue implementing the vision of Wandera and not to leave his spirit die when they (Christians) are still alive.
He noted that if Christians practise what Wandera preached, it will help reduce poverty, domestic violence and eventually bring peace.
He also called mourners to join in fighting bad manners like defilement, witchcraft and all those evil spirit that chase away the spirit of God in our families.
Luigi Bianco the Apostolic representative of his Holiness the Pope to Uganda says that Pope Francis expressed his condolences to the Catholic Diocese of Soroti and the family.
He said the Church was grateful to God for him over his generous Pastoral Ministry in the years of his service to the Lord as a priest.
“He is dead now but we will always remember him spiritually,” said Bianco.
We are here again together with you it is a moment that each one of us goes back to his or her personal reflection.
