BIOGRAPHY: FATHER HENRY TIKU WENNA
Father Henry Tiku Wenna was born on 20 May 1968 in Iziku village in Terego District in the West Nile Region of Uganda and passed to glory at St Heliers Hospital, Carshalton on 12 December 2024. He was born to Paul Wenna (deceased father), a former Headteacher in several catholic primary schools in current Terego District and mother, Rita Amaguru, a house wife (living and now 84 years old). He was one of 6 siblings of 5 boys and 1 girl. The family and siblings lived a happy life in the village with hard work in school, family farm with active participation in the church as altar servers among others. Father Henry completed primary studies at Aria Primary School, the Parish school of Immaculate Heart of Mary Ocodri Parish where he will be laid to rest. He completed his Ordinary and Advanced level secondary education at the Diocesan St. Peter and Paul Minor Seminary Pokea in Arua, Uganda. Thereafter, he joined Katigondo Major Seminary, for his philosophical studies and St Pauls Major Seminary, Kinyamasika in Fort Portal for his Theological studies. In both seminaries for study to the priesthood, he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy and in Divinity from Urbaniana and Makerere Universities respectively. He also studied for and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Uganda Management Institute in Kampala. At the Major Seminaries, Father Henry played football as a defender in the Major seminary football team. He was ordained to the catholic priesthood in 1997.
After his ordination for the Catholic Diocese of Arua, he served in Mary Mother of the Church Parish, Arivu and St Charles Lwanga Parish, Koboko. After a study leave, he spent a year at the Bishops House with the then Bishop of Arua Diocese, Frederick Drandua(RIP). Thereafter, he was appointed as the Parish Priest of Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish, Vurra.
After a visit to Arua by Stuart Sexton (RIP) of Sanderstead with recommendation of his Bishop, Fr Henry established contact with the Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. Between 2005 to 2009, Father Henry worked as a summer supply Priest at St Getrudes, South Croydon and a few other Parishes in the Archdiocese. During this period, he also served as a supply priest in the Catholic Dioceses of Aberdeen and Leeds.
In 2010, with consent of Bishop of the Diocese of Arua, Father Henry was invited to work fully in the Archdiocese of Southwark. His first assignment was as a curate at St Thomas of Canterbury, Sevenoaks. He was thereafter assigned to St Peters, Woolwich as Assistant Priest. Thereafter, he was appointed Parish Priest of St Pius Norbiton and lastly as Parish Priest at Holy Family Carshalton. He was later incardinated as a Diocesan Priest of the Archdiocese of Southwark. He has had close friendships with Brother clergy, some co-celebrating the requiem mass today.
Father Henry remained active in Uganda, supporting church and community needs in Arua Diocese and his Parish of origin, Ocodri. He continued educating many orphans across Parishes by paying their tuition fees, took care of the elderly at home and said masses in many parishes in Arua during his holiday visits to Uganda. He was the pillar in the Family leading efforts to strengthen and maintain unity in the Amuruna Family and Iziku clan in general. . He cared deeply for his Mum and family in the UK and Uganda. He cared about Ocodri Parish where he was ordained. He was a go to contact for advice and support by many people in the UK and Uganda. Amid his general simplicity in life and his priestly Ministry, he was witty and funny and brought laughter to many who met or knew him.
Father Henry’s passing brings the number of deceased siblings to four(4). Fr Henry was one of 2 Priests of his parents. The first, Late Rev Fr. Dr Gervase Matua Atama (RIP) studied at the Catholic University of Louvain and was ordained to the deaconate at Immaculate Conception, Bicester and to the catholic Priesthood at Rotterdam Cathedral in the Netherlands. At the time of his passing in 2002, Fr Matua taught at Makerere University in Uganda. His remaining 2 siblings include Dr William Onzivu and Stephen Aluonzi.
During his illness which he endured with total submission to God’s will, the Parishioners of Holy Cross Carshalton Parish was his family. They supported him until his passing and his Mum and family thank the Parish. Thank you to the Archdiocese of Southwark, Archbishop John Wilson and his brother Priests in the UK especially Monsignor Matthew Dickens, Fr Michael, Fr Vincent, Fr Pak and others for supporting his Ministry. Thank you to Corrine, Phillip, Cynthia and the many Holy Cross Carshalton parishioners and those from his previous Parishes of St Peters Woolwich and St Pius Norbiton and other parishioners and all people who visited him at St Heliers. Thank you to Stuart Sexton family for being his family and home in London. Thank you to the West Nile and Ugandan community in the UK for offering him space for community interactions. We thank the several community members who visited him at St Heliers Hospital. Some of them recounted stories of his childhood from home which immensely lifted his spirits. Thank you to Father Henry’s sister-in-law, Jennifer Onzivu and the kids for the contacts and visits to him in the in the few months and days before his passing. The kids sorely miss their uncle. Thank you to all relatives and family in Uganda and abroad. Thank you to his seminary alumni, the Terego community in Uganda, the Diocese of Arua and its brother Priests for being a source of support throughout his life, studies and ministry of priesthood.
Father has siblings, nephews, nieces and the first cousins. His siblings are Jilda Munduru, Jessica Atacia, Annet Chandiru, Tom Adomati, Fred Apaga, Isaac Atuma, Santus Asiku, Felix Ndema. His first cousins include Cesar Guvele, Ephraim Ondoga, Guido Aluma, Jino Akuma, Ambrose Andinia, Richard Geria, Mophat Akuaku, Nemezio Ezama, Hellen Angucia, Gertrude Inzikuru, Clara Azea, Molda Andresiru, Joanna. His nephews include Moses Edema, Ronald Olima, Raphael Dubo, Ricky Ojoatre, Kennedy Eyama, Benard Adia, Sunday Asea, Budebo Charles, Andama, Tabule. His nieces include Mercy Munduru, Deogratias Candia, Winnie Badaru, Josephine Candiru, Beatrice Ezaru, Harriet Asea, Gladys Anguaku. He has a network of many relatives not included here.
There will be a Requiem Mass at Vura Catholic Parish on Thursday, 13th February 2025 starting at 11:00am, followed by another Mass at Christ the King Church, Arua District at 1:30pm, thereafter a vigil will be held at Iziku-Terego, Arua District.
There will be another Requiem Mass at their home in Iziku-Terego, Arua District on Friday, 14th February 2025 starting at 10:00am, followed by another vigil at Ochodri Catholic Parish Church.
Burial will take place at Ochodri Catholic Parish Church on Saturday, 15th February 2025 starting with a Requiem Mass at 10:00am.
Informed are; Relatives, Friends and In-laws.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE
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