Cardinal Wamala is alive and well, says Catholic Church

KAMPALA – The Catholic Church has dismissed rumours making rounds on Monday that Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala is dead.

Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, Secretary-General, Uganda Episcopal Conference said on Monday evening that the Cardinal, 95 is alive and doing well.

“I just spoke to the Cardinal and he is well. He is in good spirits and there is no cause for alarm,” Msgr. Kauta told this writer on May 9.

The Kampala Archdiocese had earlier clarified the same position, dismissing social media rumours.

In a telephone conversation on Monday, May 9, Fr. Pius Male Ssentumbwe, the Chancellor of Kampala Archdiocese said the Cardinal, who retired as Archbishop of Kampala in 2006, was well and at home.

The Cardinal, who celebrated his 95th birthday in December last year lives in Nsambya in his retirement.

“The Cardinal is well and alive,” Fr. Male said.

“The public is requested to always seek for official information from Church channels ,” he said.

Cardinal Wamala, the Archbishop emeritus of Kampala, was born on 15 December 1926 at Kamaggwa in the Diocese of Masaka.

He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1957, in Rome.

He was appointed Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana on 17 July 1981, on 22 November 1981 he was ordained by Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga.
On 21 June 1988 he was promoted to the rank of Coadjutor Bishop of Kampala.

On 8 February 1990, he succeeded Cardinal Nsubuga.

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the consistory of 26 November 1994, of the Title of S. Ugo (St. Hugh). He retired as Archbishop of Kampala, on 19 August 2006.

Cardinal Wamala participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.