The Catholic Church in the Province of Mbarara and beyond is mourning the death of its liturgical music composer, John Bosco Kazoora, whose hymns have shaped Catholic Liturgy in western Uganda.
Kazoora is widely regarded among the leading contributors of original Runyankole hymns used in the Catholic Liturgy. His compositions have been embraced by choirs and congregations for decades, becoming a central part of worship in many parishes.
Born on July 2, 1962 in Kabagoma village, in the present day Nyabuhikye Parish in Ibanda District, Kazoora has composed hundred of songs ranging ng from entrance songs (starting liturgical celebrations), asking for mercy and pardon, glorifying the Lord (Gloria), meditation, offertory, holy communion, thanksgiving, recession, about vocation, Mary, Martyrs among others.
Among his most famous compositions is Reeba Irembo rya Mukama riboneire inviting the faithful to make them worthy of entering through the gate of heaven, Mwije nkundwa za Mukama, Ekitiinwa Ayi Mukama, a Runyankole version of the Gloria (song of the angels) sung during Mass. He also composed Nkwata Omukono Taata, a hymn expressing surrender to Jesus Christ in times of hardship.
Other inspiring compositions include Ai Mukama Wangye Ompindure Ekikwato, extracted from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Ebirungi bi onkoreire Taata and Mukama ninkusiima, which exhibit a spirit of thanksgiving, as well as Mukama Ndinda and Tihariho ondiijo, reflecting a prayer for divine protection and expression of faith in the only savior.
Kazoora also composed a number of Marian songs which include Baryaguma Banyete omunyamugisha (song of the Blessed Virgin Mary thanking the Lord), Yateemba Maria omugabekazi, recognizing Mary’s assumption to Heaven, Maria ori omuhiirwa (about the immaculateness of Mary) and Eshi Nahiirwa reflecting the happiness that filled Elizabeth when Mary visited her.
He also composed different songs about vocation and these include Ntume oha, Otatiina, Noza kuhereza Mukama, Hati wakwatsibwa ogu mwoga and You are a servant of the Lord. He was good at preserving culture and composed Ninyenda Kwombeka Eka literally meaning I want to build a home.
Church leaders and faithful described Kazoora as a pillar of indigenous sacred music whose work strengthened the use of local language in Catholic worship.
Musekura Anthony, one of the renowned Liturgical music composers from Kabale Diocese recounted how he met Kazoora in choir at Namugongo. “We met in Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province Association (MEPA) in 2018, he was training one of his music compositions, Ninza Kuhereza Mukama,” said Musekura.
“I know him as one who does what he loves. He loves what he is passionate about, what is in his blood and that was music…..not just music… liturgical music,” Musekura added.
Musekura noted that Kazoora has written and recorded numerous songs for liturgy and that he carried his music in the head, training all the musical notes from his head. However, of recent, he was reading staff directly from the sheet.
Mr. Darius Masindano, one of the music composers from Mbarara Archdiocese recounted his memories with Kazoora. “I saw him in 1990, he was a smart choir master, I admired the way he was playing the piano. in 1992, I joined Uganda Martyrs Parish Choir Mbarara where he was the choir master at and conducted Uganda Martyrs celebrations at Namugongo. When we returned from Namugongo, I started learning the piano but unfortunately I had no instructor, because he was a very busy man (he was a senior Driver with Mbarara District Local Government). In 1994, I started playing the piano in the church and when he saw me, he was very happy. I remember he wrote some musical chords guiding me.”
Masindano continued: “My turning point was in the same year (1994) he had just composed an offertory hymn Nimwije n’emitoijo. He had an abrupt assignment to drive his boss to Kampala but his wife was in the village, so he requested me to keep his room until he returned from Kampala. When I search in his files at his table, I found that he had composed Nimwije n’emitoijo from Mbarara, yet all along I thought composers were from Namugongo, Rubaga or Rome, who had alot of money, I was inspired to start composing because I saw it was possible. My first composition was a Christmas hymn, Ensi Twesiime, which he helped me to give harmony as my elder especially with alto and tenor voices.
According to close relatives, Kazoora succumbed to diabetes on Monday, May 4, 2026. There will be a Requiem Mass at Nyamitanga Cathedral on Thursday, May 7, 2026 presided over by His Grace Lambert Bainomugisha, Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese. Kazoora will be laid to rest on Friday, May 9, 2026 at his ancestral home in Kabahoma, Nyabuhikye in Ibanda district. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
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May his soul rest in eternity