By KT Reporter
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed his support for the legacy of His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, the retired Archbishop of Kampala, during a meeting at State House, Entebbe.
The President pledged government backing for initiatives tied to the Cardinal’s family foundation, including the Kamagwa Hospital and the expansion of a museum in Kamagwa village, Kyotera District.
“We agreed that the government will support his family foundation’s Kamagwa Hospital, while it remains a private facility, and that the Ministry of Tourism will support the establishment of a museum to preserve his legacy,” President Museveni wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following Tuesday’s meeting. At Cardinal Wamala’s request, Museveni also agreed to serve as Patron of the project.
Born on December 15, 1926, Cardinal Wamala celebrated his 99th birthday last year, making him one of the oldest living cardinals in the Catholic Church. Despite his age, he remains mentally sharp, reading and speaking clearly without the aid of spectacles.
The museum, initially launched in 2020 by President Museveni at the Cardinal’s ancestral home in Kamagwa village, serves as a reference center highlighting the prelate’s life and work.
It houses photographs, books, pastoral letters, religious souvenirs, and materials reflecting Uganda’s culture and history.
Plans are underway to expand the museum to include a library with rare educational materials, benefiting underprivileged communities and potentially attracting international visitors.
Bishop Serverus Jjumba of Masaka Diocese described the museum as a source of inspiration for priests and ordinary Christians alike, showcasing a life devoted to faith and societal contribution.
President Museveni has long praised Cardinal Wamala for his guidance and support during Uganda’s liberation struggle and his role in faith-based leadership and social transformation.
Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala was born in Kamaggwa Village and is one of ten children.
He studied at Bukalasa Minor Seminary and the National Major Seminary of Katigondo before earning a Bachelor of Theology in Rome. Ordained a priest in 1957, he served as a teacher, diocesan school supervisor, and chaplain at Makerere University.
He rose through church leadership, becoming Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana in 1981, Coadjutor Archbishop of Kampala in 1988, and Archbishop of Kampala in 1990.
Pope John Paul II elevated him to Cardinal in 1994. He also served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Uganda and as the first Rector of Uganda Martyrs University, retiring in 2006.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
