By Peter Sebulime
His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala and his brother Msgr Henry Kyabukasa, have today thanked the Almighty God for having made them celebrate their 90th birthday respectively.
Cardinal Wamala will on December 15, 2019 clock 93 years of age, 62 years in priesthood, 38 years as a Bishop and 25 years as a cardinal, while Msgr Kyabukasa, a teacher at Bukalasa Seminary, clocked 90 years of age and 60 years in priesthood.
The celebration was marked during a function held at Kamaggwa in Kalisizo Sun-county, Kyotera district , in Masaka diocese that started with mass sang by Rt.Rev Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa, who described the two priests as men of God who are exemplary, committed, hardworking and councilors.
“Cardinal Wamala has remained a father to the Bishop’s Conference whose contribution is enormous to us all,” Bishop Kaggwa said.
They also prayed for their parents; the late Cosma Kyamera and Namayanja Diini Eyawula, plus all their departed family members.
Cardinal Wamala thanked president Yoweri Museveni for having supported him to put up a museum called Cardinal Wamala Museum at his birth place in Kaamagwa. He also thanked all people who have cared for him throughout his lifetime.
He prayed and blessed the congregation, saying he and his brother need more prayers especially because they are the surviving children out of 8 siblings.
Cardinal Wamala was born in Kaamaggwa, Matale Parish Masaka Diocese on December 15, 1926, ordained priest on December 21, 1957, consecrated first Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana diocese on November 24, 1981 by His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga and served till 1988 when he was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Kampala, 1988-1990,replacing Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga.
On November 29, 1990, Wamala was installed as Archbishop of Kampala and Cardinal of Uganda by saint Pope John Paul ii in Rome.
Cardinal Wamala retired the position of Archbishop of Kampala in 2006 and was succeeded by Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga after clocking 75 years.
He was one of the Cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 conclave that selected Pope Benedict Xvi but has since lost the right to participate again in any future conclave as a result of passing his eightieth birthday.
He once served as Vicar General of Masaka diocese from 1974 to 1981.
The function to celebrate his decades as God’s servant was attended among others Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Archbishop of Kampala, Rt. Rev. Bishop Serverus Jjumba the ordinary of Masaka diocese, Bishop Matia Ssekamaanya the Emeritus of Lugazi diocese
