Emmanuel Nsubuga (original) (raw)
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Uganda Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Kampala from 1966 to 1990
| His EminenceEmmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop Emeritus of Kampala | |
 Portrait image Emmanuel Cardinal Kiwankuka Nsubuga (1984) |
|
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Kampala |
| See | Kampala |
| Appointed | 5 August 1966 |
| Term ended | 8 February 1990 |
| Predecessor | Vincent Billington |
| Successor | Emmanuel Wamala |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Nuova (1976-91) |
| Previous post | President of the Ugandan Episcopal Conference (1969-75) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 15 December 1946 |
| Consecration | 30 October 1966by Laurean Rugambwa |
| Created cardinal | 24 May 1976by Pope Paul VI |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga5 November 1914Kisule, Uganda |
| Died | 20 April 1991(1991-04-20) (aged 76)Cologne, Germany |
| Motto | Mater profer lumen caecis |
Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga (5 November 1914 – 20 April 1991) was a Uganda Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Kampala from 1966 to 1990 and as a cardinal from 1976 until his death.[1][2] He was an outspoken critic of human rights abuses of the military dictatorship of Idi Amin.[3]
During Amin's rule, Nsubuga spoke against the government's human rights abuses. He also encouraged priests and nuns throughout the country to shelter people fleeing harassment by the army during the civil war that later raged during the Government of Milton Obote.[2]
Early life and ordination
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Cardinal Nsubuga was born on 5 November 1914 in Kisule village, Mityana district to Felix and Estella Nsubuga.[4][5] He began his ecclesiastical training in 1930 at Bukuumi and continued through minor and major seminary education.[4][5] Ordained a priest on 15 December 1946 at Rubaga Cathedral.[6]
Episcopal leadership
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On 5 August 1966, Cardinal Nsubuga was appointed Archbishop of the newly erected Archdiocese of Kampala and was consecrated on 30 October 1966 by Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa.[4]
He was succeeded in 1990 as Archbishop of Kampala by Emmanuel Wamala, who became a cardinal in 1994.
Card of his Eminence Emmanuel Nsubuga (Sept. 1984)
Elevation to Cardinal and service
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On May 24, 1976, Pope Paul VI elevated Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga a Cardinal-Priest, assigning him a title of Santa Maria Nuova.[4] This appointment marked him as the first Ugandan to become a cardinal. As cardinal, Nsubuga became Uganda's moral compass, championing justice, peace, and human rights. He openly criticized Idi Amin’s dictatorship in the 1970s, speaking out against the regime's cruelty.[5][7] Nsubuga used his standing to condemn the violence and oppression sanctioned by the state. He also urged Catholic clergy and religious groups in Uganda to give refuge to those escaping political persecution, especially when the country was dealing with civil unrest and military clashes.[5][7]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byNew diocese | Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala 1966–1990 | Succeeded byEmmanuel Wamala |
- ^ "Website of the Archdiocese of Kampala". Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
- ^ a b Cardinal Nsubuga, 76; Uganda Rights Backer, New York Times, 22 April 1991
- ^ Profile at catholic-hierarchy.org
- ^ a b c d "Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga". Kampala Archdiocese. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga's legacy lives on 25 years after his demise". New Vision. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Cardinal Nsubuga: Man of God Amin never touched". Monitor. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ a b kladmin (22 September 2020). "Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga". Kampala Archdiocese. Retrieved 8 September 2025.