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In his first letter to the Corinthians (I Cor 12:12), Saint Paul the Apostle uses the illustration of the human body to show how Christians are endowed with different gifts, and how this is a deliberate intention by God for the Christians to work together for the good of the Church. 

Mzee Joseph Tamale, the veteran religious photojournalist who succumbed to cancer last month, exhibited deep understanding of this Pauline teaching during his lifetime. 

He loved the Catholic Church, in which he was born and nurtured. He also always demonstrated moral support and love to his ministers. But he was also aware of his limitations in ecclesial service. 

So, he opted to offer to the same Church what he knew God had given him in plenty; his photography skills.

It is thus not surprising he (Mzee Tamale) was always present where there was a big Catholic Church function or celebration, taking pictures. 

He would not miss out on priestly donation functions at Rubaga Cathedral, religious professions celebrations of the various Catholic religious institutes, celebrations of jubilees of priests and consecrated religious men and women, among others. 

Sometimes Tamale would take so many pictures to the amazement of Christians. 

In fact, I remember one time the late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga asking him during one of the functions at Rubaga Cathedral: “But Tamale, where do you put all the pictures you shoot?”

Even when he began to weaken because of his cancer-related complications, Tamale continued to grace the Catholic religious functions with his camera.

Further to being a passionate Church photographer, Mzee Tamale also enjoyed socialising with Catholic priests and the consecrated religious. 

The priests and consecrated religious were also aware of Tamale’s love for them, which is the reason why they too loved him, accommodated him and also tolerated whatever shortcoming he had as any human being. 

They also gave him assistance during his illness. 

Tamale is greatly missed by the Christians of Mutundwe Catholic parish, where he lived prior to his death. 

He was buried at his ancestral graveyard at Semukombe, in Mpigi district. 

Tribute  

The requiem Mass was presided over by the parish priest of Mutundwe, Fr Remegious Ssemuju, who praised Tamale for his dynamic and selfless service in the Catholic Church, where he worked as a photographer. 

Ssemuju also paid tribute to Tamale for his love for fellow Christians. Tamale’s requiem Mass was also con-celebrated by Fr Gerald Kiganda from the Roman Catholic parish of Mitala-Maria.