Uganda Priest Identified as one of the Bodies in Guerrero Fosa

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

 Fr. John Ssenyondo was reported missing by the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa.

The Catholic priest who disappeared in April, was found in a Guerrero fosa (clandestine grave), and buried with six other bodies.  The discovery was made a week ago in the search for the 43 missing normalistas students. 

It is believed that the priest was executed after he refused to baptize the daughter of a local narco leader.

John Ssenyondo was born in the year of 1958 in Masaka , Uganda.   He  arrived in 2009 settling in the town of Chilapa, Guerrero, as part of the Heart of Jesus Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ), joining  the clergy of the region, working with the indigenous population . First settling in the town of Santa Cruz , in Chilapa, then to the town of Nejapa where he officiated as a priest. 

A year before his murder, he had suffered an assault in his home by thugs robbing him and stealing his vehicle.

Authorities were quiet about his disappearance, giving no details.  And even with the latest finding, the city of Chilapa has not spoken publicly about the case and had not publicly demanded an investigation to determine the whereabouts of the priest.  The typically gritty Mexican Catholic Church was also silent, any information forwarded, was done so covertly and anonymously. 

The regional rector of the cathedral, Javier Casarrubias Carballido, has never commented on the missing Priest.

Mexico is a dangerous place for reporters and priests.  Priests are killed on a regular basis, with little fanfare outside local areas. For local authorities not to  acknowledge a missing priest, or call for an investigation is unusual, even for Mexico, but perhaps that is business as usual... in Guerrero.

His remains were  located in one of the graves where they found six bodies in Chilapa, a rural town about 35 minutes east of Chilpancingo. A skull,and other bones later identified as belonging to the missing priest were discovered with the bodies.

Authorities of Semefo (medical examiner) Guerrero report that  at the time of his disappearance, the priest was undertaking dental work, and the dental impressions created for the work, were used to facilitate a match to the remains.

Ssenyondo had been abducted by unknown gunmen, who blocked a road, then forcibly taken him. 

On April 30^th Father Ssenyondo had traveled to the rural mountains of Guerrero, to celebrate mass. It was at that event he was asked to baptize the child.  The priest declined the request on grounds the sponsors were not married. 

Father Ssenyondo was killed by a bullet to the head.

sources:  sur acapulco-excelsior-facebook-despetar costa-"Pepe"