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For over half a decade, Dr Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala has taken a backseat from life in the public eye but on Sunday, the prelate who turns 97 next month, was on hand to launch the construction of a students' centre at Makerere University Business School (MUBS).    

The Cardinal Wamala Students' Centre is expected to cost the Catholic Church an estimated sh4b. 

Cardinal Wamala has been out of public eye July 2017 following advice by doctors and that may have caused some to worry about the condition of the retired Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese who celebrates his birthday on December 15, but he would be the first to allay any such fears. 

“I am not sick at all, I am fine, and I was only advised by the doctors to reduce my schedule and rest. The doctors also advised me to limit my interaction with people and get a quiet place where I can rest,” he said. 

Cardinal Wamala, clad in his red cassock and moving with help of a cane in his right hand, was chaperoned by the assistant chaplain of MUBS, Fr Raphael Ddamba, with the help of his secretary, Br. Leornard Ssekiranda. 

He was welcomed by MUBS chaplain Msgr Dr Lawrence Ssemusu, principal Prof. Moses Muhwezi, and his team. 

Dr. Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala on his arrival to commissioning foundation stone and Ground-Breaking to construction “Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala” students' center of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) on Sunday November 26, 2023, as his secretary Brother Leonard Ssekiranda. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

During the launch Cardinal Wamala thanked the chaplains for inviting him to commission the ground-breaking and launching the fundraising drive towards the construction of the building. 

“I wish to express my gratitude to you all,” he said. 

“Dear friends, filled with sentiments of profound gratitude to God, it is with much pleasure to greet you on this historical day in my life when I was appointed a Cardinal 29 years back,” Cardinal Wamala said. 

He expressed his delight that the Nakawa chaplaincy had opted to name the building marking 20 years of existence after him. 

“Thank you Msgr Ssemusu and your collaborators for considering me worthy of such a privilege,” Cardinal Wamala said.   

Ssemusu was effusive in his praise for Cardinal Wamala and his efforts to get the Nakawa chaplaincy off the ground. 

“In 2004, Cardinal Wamala asked the management for space to establish the chaplaincy, he was accepted and the same year on March 18, broke ground, in April officially granted us authority, and also blessed the foundation stone of beginning the construction of the chapel,” he said.    

“You loved us, you were at the forefront of fundraising for the construction of the chapel, you came back to bless the altar, and today, you blessed the students’ centre,” Ssemusu added. 

“This student centre will be the MUBS milestone monument to celebrate 20 years anniversary of full Catholic chaplaincy which you initiated and effectively supported,” he said. 

The building will be multipurpose with hostels, halls, boardrooms and shops.   

Ssemusu revealed that “there is still a long journey on the sh4.7b needed for the project. Today, we raised sh11m in cash and sh18.5m in pledges.”   

Chief fundraiser and honorary consul of Namibia to Uganda, Godfrey Kirumira, contributed sh10m in cash, Daniel Odora sh5m on top of buying Cardinal Wamala’s photograph at sh4.5m, Prof. Muhwezi sh1.5m, Prof. Vincent Bagire sh500,000, Joseph Jooga sh1m, and Prof. Richard Kikambi (sh2m), among others. 

Kirumira said the church was part of the community and that the student centre had to be built to help the students study and live in suitable places. 

“I am fully aware that the realisation of this venture can only be possible through the generous contributions of good-hearted individuals and friends, and steps have been taken to contact them,” Kirumira who accepted to champion the fundraising drive, said. 

Who is Wamala? 

Cardinal Wamala was born to the late Cosma Kyamera and Theresa Namayanja, on December 15, 1926, in Kamaggwa village, Lwaggulwe Catholic Parish in Masaka district now Rakai district. 

He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1957, chapel of the Pontifical Collegio Urbaniano, Rome, by Pietro Sigismondi. 

In 1974, he was appointed the Vicar General of Masaka and at the same time for a certain period, Parish Priest of Nkoni (1975-1977) and of Kimaanya (1977-79). In 1977, Paul VI conferred on him the title of Chaplain of His Holiness. 

He was appointed Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana on July 17 1981, and consecrated on November 22 1981, by Late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga. 

On June 21, 1988, he became a co-adjutor Bishop of Kampala. On February 8 1990, he succeeded Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga. He was appointed a cardinal in 1994. 

He served as archbishop of Kampala until September 30, 2006. He was succeeded by the late Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. 

Dr Wamala was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. 

He has been "emeritus as archbishop of Kampala" fifteen years back. 

Cardinal Wamala turned 42 years as a bishop, 46 years as a bishop, and 66 years in priesthood.