Fides
Kigali
06.12.00
Rev. Isidro Uzcudun, fidei donum priest from Spain aged 69, was murdered on Saturday June 10 in Mugina parish, diocese of Kabgayi in Rwanda. The missionary was from the Spanish diocese of San Sebastian, ordained in 1957, he had been working in Kabgayi diocese for many years.
Local sources told Fides that on Saturday at about five in the evening, while Fr Isidro was in the presbytery talking with a young boy, three armed men, one in army uniform, broke into the house. They ordered the boy to lie on the floor and at gun point told the priest to hand over all the money in his possession. Fr Isidro gave them the money which he had in a drawer. One of the bandits, not satisfied with the booty, shot the priest killing him instantly.
Before leaving, the three murders locked the boy in the office and tried to steal the parish car, but had to abandon the idea because it wouldn't start.
Shouts of alarm from some women of the parish were heard by the Sisters of St Anne, a community a few hundred meters from the presbytery, who called the police. That same evening Fr Isidro's body was taken to Kabgayi hospital for an autopsy. The local police have opened an inquiry.
Fr Isidro's funeral will be held tomorrow, June 13, in Mugina where he will be buried, a small group of relatives will attend. The Mass will be concelebrated by Bishop Anastase Mutabazi of Kabgayi, Archbishop Thaddee Ntihinyurwa of Kigali and the Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio.