THE
PATIENT
SACRIFICE, GENIUS, AND GREED IN
UGANDA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
OLIVE KOBUSINGYE
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© 2019 Olive Kobusingye. All rights reserved.
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Published by AuthorHouse 04/14/2020
ISBN: 978-1-7283-9585-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-7283-9584-5 (e)
Cover photograph: Patients and their attendants wait outside a ward in New Mulago Hospital, 2012. Monitor Publications Limited.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
CONTENTS
Makerere University anthem (abridged)
To the women and men who taught us, not just Medicine, but how to be doctors, and how to be patient in the face of much adversity.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am very grateful to everyone I interviewed for this book. Thank you for your generosity, and for entrusting me with your stories, some probably told for the first time ever. I hope I have told your stories well. Prof. Francis Omaswa was resourceful with contacts and reference materials. Dr. Alison Kinengyere and staff of Albert Cook Library spared no effort in locating reference materials and photographs, some a century old. I thank my friends and colleagues who encouraged me to keep writing. In particular, Drs. Maria Nsereko and Drew Ddembe gave me very helpful input into the manuscript. Dr. Patricia Spittal read every word, and her incisive comments ensured a more coherent narration. Daniel Kalinaki, in his characteristic backhanded manner, assured me that the story was worth telling. David Sseppuuya gave invaluable advice with regard to content organization, and edited the entire manuscript. My husband and our daughters were exceedingly patient with me – seemingly never doubting that the book would one day be done. Thank you so very much, everyone!
In addition to desk research, the author conducted extensive interviews with many of the people who feature in this book. She personally interviewed the persons listed below, and the quotes and accounts attributed to them are drawn directly from those conversations. Unattributed opinions and conclusions are entirely those of the author.
Dr. Adam Kimala, general surgeon. Kimala worked at Mulago Hospital for most of his career until he retired from public service in 2005. By late 2019, he was working part time at Kampala Hospital.
Dr. Anthony Gakwaya, general surgeon. Gakwaya worked at Mulago Hospital as a surgeon until his retirement from public service. Dean, School of Medicine, St. Augustine International University, Uganda.
Dr. Byarugaba Baterana, physician, Director, Mulago National Referral Hospital (2011 -)
Dr. Frederick Mutyaba, orthopedic surgeon. Mutyaba graduated as a doctor in 1979, and completed his general surgical training in 1984. He worked at Mulago as a surgeon for twenty years until his retirement in 2004. He continues to teach on the Makerere post-graduate program as an Honorary Lecturer.
Dr. Henry Ddungu, physician and hemato-oncologist, the Uganda Cancer Institute.
Dr. Jackie Mabweijano, Accident & Emergency surgeon. She graduated as a surgeon in 1998, and other than periods of additional training outside Uganda, she continues to work as a surgeon at Mulago Hospital.
Dr. Robert Wangoda, general surgeon. Wangoda graduated from Makerere as a doctor in 1995 and as a surgeon in 2001. He worked in Gulu and Mulago hospitals, before moving to Masaka Regional Hospital in 2013. He heads the Surgical Department.
Prof. Charles Olweny, oncologist, first Ugandan Head of the Uganda Cancer Institute, and Chair of the Board of Directors, Uganda Cancer Institute (2019 -).
Prof. Francis Omaswa, cardiothoracic surgeon. Former Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health, former Chair of the Board of Directors, Mulago Hospital. Executive Director, African Center for Global Health & Social Transformation (ACHEST)
Dr. Jackson Orem, oncologist. Director, Uganda Cancer Institute.
Prof. Moses Galukande, general surgeon. Head, Department of Surgery, Makerere University.
Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, physician, epidemiologist. Former Dean of Makerere Medical School, and the first Principal of the College of Health Sciences.
Prof. Paul D’Arbela, cardiologist, first Ugandan cardiologist. Former Head of Department of Medicine, Makerere Medical School.
Prof. Charles Ibingira, surgeon, Principal, College of Health Services (2015 -)
Prof. Bwogi Richard Kanyerezi, physician. Former Head of Department of Medicine, Makerere Medical School. Consultant, Kampala Hospital.
Prof. Sarah Kiguli, pediatrician, medical education specialist. Former Head of Department of Pediatrics, former Coordinator, Problem Based Learning, Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
Prof. Steven Kijjambu, plastic surgeon, medical education specialist. Former Head of Department of Surgery, former Dean, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
Prof. Sam Luboga, surgeon, anatomist, medical education specialist. Former Head, Department of Anatomy, Former Associate Dean (Education & Training), College of Health Sciences.
Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Director, Health Services Planning & Development, Ministry of Health (2015 -)
Ms. Josephine Nabulime, Accident & Emergency, Critical Care nurse
Conversations from PG rooms1 are not recounts of actual conversations. They do reflect sentiments