By Irene Lamumu
“The happiest of my days will be the one I will be able to give my life for you,” were the words Fr. William Nyadru used as his ordination souvenir, directly quoted from St Daniel Comboni. Little did he know that these words would become a lived experience just three years after his ordination! Fr. William Nyadru, born in 1960, was a priest belonging to the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ). He joined Alokolum Major Seminary in 1979 and on 5 th May 1984, took his first vows; followed by his final profession in 1987.
This was a year after his ordination, and he served for only three years before God called him back home. He was murdered in the present day Kotido Catholic Diocese, in Morulem, on 25 th October 1991. In a biographical written by Fr. Agostoni Tarcisio MCCJ (RIP), the author describes how “On 20th October 1988, the people of the small town of Moyo in Northern Uganda near the Sudanese border” were excited and filled with immense joy to witness the event of the ordination of the first Madi Comboni Missionary. The Large Church, built by the Comboni Missionaries who brought the faith to the Madi population in 1917, was filled to capacity on that special occasion.
There were other Diocesan Madi priests, ordained years before him but Nyadru was the first fruit of the Comboni. Thirty-three years later, at the same venue, where Fr. William was celebrated as a new priest, the people of Moyo, Adjumani, Pakele, the Comboni Provincial Superiors from South Sudan, Uganda as well as a member of the Comboni General Council were present for the thanksgiving celebrations of Fr. Nyadru’s life. The reason for Fr. Nyadru’s murder is, to date, not known. The strongest conjecture, stated by Fr. Agostoni is that some chiefs who were planning to undertake a large cattle raid consulted a diviner to know whether their raid would be successful and the diviner assured them of success on condition that they sacrificed a man riding a motorcycle.
Thus, on that fateful Friday, as Fr. William rode his motorcycle on the road between Kotido and Moroto, to pick Baptism cards to be used on Sunday, he became the price sacrifice for the warriors. His body was discovered, a couple of days after the despicable act; facing down in a similar posture as the one he had taken during his priestly ordination. Indeed, like a sacrifice! The thirty-third anniversary at Mary Assumpta Catholic Parish, Moyo commenced with the Holy Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Raphael Wokorach P’mony, Archbishop of Gulu. His Grace, Wokorach P’Mony said that Fr. Nyadru felt called to the priestly missionary vocation and lived it to the full. He added that the fruits of his continuing life is seen in the presence of his loving memory.
In his homily, His Grace explained how Fr. Nyadru was called to be an obedient member of the Comboni family. He was later sent to London to study Journalism. After two years, he returned and was supposed to be the Director of Leadership Magazine but the province saw it fit for him to have a mission experience in Morulem Parish before he assumed his responsibilities with the Leadership Magazine. He added that, God had placed Fr. Nyadru in an honorable place and he is now praying for us. For, while here on earth, he never refused to do the will of God even when he was sent to Karamoja at a time when no one was willing to serve there. In doing this, Fr. Nyadru followed in the footsteps of his founder, St Daniel Comboni who also gave his life for the mission to serve in Africa, despite the harsh weather, poverty and sicknesses.
“The founder was not afraid and so was Fr. William and all the missionaries who followed this path. Fr. William had a deep experience of God, which is why he was happy to serve in Karamoja. Such are the missionaries who touch the wounds of others, in order to bring them healing,” said His Grace Wokorach p’Mony.
He entreated the people to learn the love of God by learning to touch each other’s wounds in this manner; for we can reconstruct our faith by being available to the other. He concluded his homily on the note that Fr. Nyadru’s death should remind all of the wounds of our country; one of these is corruption. “We can each do something to bring healing and harmony in our communities,” said the Archbishop.
The celebration was also marked with other activities like blessing the renovated grave of Fr. William Nyadru at the parish cemetery. There was also a panel discussion on the life of Fr. Nyadru, moderated by Sr. Dominic Dipio; and a poetic performance of the events leading to the murder of William, by the students of St Mary Assumpta, Pakele. During the panel discussion, Fr. Philip Zema MCCJ, a close friend and schoolmate of Fr. William lauded him for guiding him on the decision to join the Comboni Missionaries.
“Fr. William was going to use the media for evangelization. He left a gap that we cannot easily fill. There is something special about William. Some confreres consider him as one who has lived in a heroic and holy way,” Fr. Philip commented. Sr. Dominic Dipio in her turn commented that Fr. Nyadru was a wholesome gift taken from the people of Madi and offered for the mission; who has now returned to them as a greater gift by the witness of his life as a ‘martyr’, shedding his blood in the mission of evangelization. She requested the Madi community to receive and own this gift. Sr. Dipio noted that Fr. Nyadru was a victim of violence that has in so many ways marred and marked this country; and that his life calls on all to examine the level of maturity in our lived Christian faith.
