Cardinal Wamala Held Captive for 21 Hours in 1992

Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala

Function: Retired archbishop of Kampala, Uganda

Title: Cardinal Priest of S Ugo

Birthdate: Dec 15, 1926	Country: Uganda

Elevated: Nov 26, 1994	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Cardinal Wamala Held Captive for 21 Hours in 1992
Sept 10, 2004

(September 9, 2004) The last time a film-like hostage taking saga happened in Uganda was in 1992 when Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala was held by an armed man demanding a rather unusual ransom.

The day was Monday, February 3, 1992 as Wamala received visitors in his office following a funeral service for the late Prof. Sebastian Kyalwazi. President Yoweri Museveni had also attended the service.

Wamala's 21-hour ordeal at his office started at 11:00am. A visitor, who identified himself as Saidi Bingo, reached into his bag and got out a coat and two bombs, and the ordeal started.

Bingo ordered Wamala to ring Museveni and convey his demands. But the Cardinal thought fast and told his captor that the phones were out of order. He instead offered to write a note to the President about the kidnapper's demands.

Bingo told Museveni not to mobilise a rescue or he would kill Wamala. He asked that the President pays a ransom of three human beings: The manager of Florian Bar 1989 at Nakivubo, the cashier at the same bar and a man who he said had been with the cashier the previous night. He said he wanted them over infecting his wife with HIV/AIDS.

He also wanted an announcement on radio Uganda that he had taken the Cardinal hostage.

Bingo went to the loo in the cardinal's office and the prelate escaped. Bingo tried to pursue him, but hastily pulled back when security operatives disguised as priests opened fire. He stayed quiet for about 30 minutes and then a bang! Bingo had blown himself up with his bombs.

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