Respected for his humility, dedication to service and interfaith work, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala is a retired Archbishop of Kampala, Uganda, whose distinguished service to the Church spans six decades.

Born on December 15, 1926, in Kamaggwa Village, Lwaggulwe Parish, Masaka District, Uganda, Wamala was one of ten children born to Cosma Kyamera and Theresa Nnamayanja, with two of his siblings also entering religious life.

His education began at Kalisizo and Bakira elementary schools before he entered Bukalasa Minor Seminary in 1942. He continued his studies at the National Major Seminary of Katigondo from 1949 to 1955. His pursuit of higher education took him to Rome, where he obtained a Bachelor of Theology from the Pontifical Urban University and was ordained as a priest on December 21, 1957.

Upon returning to Uganda in 1960, Wamala served in various roles, including diocesan school supervisor, teacher at Bukalasa Minor Seminary, and chaplain at Makerere University. His leadership qualities were recognized when he was appointed Vicar General of Masaka in 1974.

Wamala’s ascent through the Church hierarchy continued with his appointment as Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana in 1981. He was then promoted to Coadjutor Archbishop of Kampala on June 21, 1988, and succeeded as Archbishop of Kampala on February 8, 1990.

On November 26, 1994, Pope John Paul II elevated Wamala to the rank of cardinal with the title of Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Ugo. As cardinal, he participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Wamala held several influential positions, including President of the Episcopal Conference of Uganda from 1986 to 1994 and the first Rector of Uganda Martyrs University. He retired as Archbishop of Kampala on August 19, 2006, but continued to be active in Church affairs.

Cardinal Wamala’s legacy extends beyond his ecclesiastical duties. He is known for his commitment to education and social welfare, serving as a patron of the African Prisons Project. One of his most recent public appearances was on November 21, 2021, marking his fortieth episcopal anniversary.