Prof. Nambooze, first female doctor in East Africa

By Vision Reporter

PROF. Josephine Nambooze’s qualification in medicine created many turning points, both in her life and the lives of those around her.

Her graduation received unprecedented media coverage, both on the local and international scene, something she says she was not prepared for.

As a result, Nambooze says it made her shy, a condition she has struggled to overcome to date. When she started clinical practice, many women preferred her to attend to them.

trueAll this happened because Nambooze had just gone down in history as the first female doctor in east and central Africa.

But her success did not come on a silver platter. Born in a devout Christian family, Nambooze attended mainly missionary schools during the pre-independence period.

From St. Joseph’s Girls’ Primary School, Nsambya, she joined the prestigious Mt. St. Mary’s, Namagunga, having won a scholarship because of her excellent performance.

However, she switched to a boys’ school, Namilyango College, to study sciences.

It was the first time she was studying with boys. At that time, parents had reservations sending girls to study with boys in secular institutions, because they feared that it would affect their morals.

In 1959, when Prof. Nambooze graduated, she received her licentiate in medicine and surgery from the Queen Mother as the Chancellor of London University.

Makerere University was affiliated to this college.

Back home in her village, there was excitement on getting the first doctor in the area. Many people thanked Nambooze’s parents for encouraging her to pursue a male dominated profession.

In 1962, after completing her postgraduate studies overseas, she was appointed the first medical officer at Kasangati teaching health centre for the medical school. This posting made her the first woman to head a public health institute in Uganda.

She also worked with the World Health Organisation as the first WHO Representative to Botswana and Director of Support for Health Services Development at WHO regional office in Congo-Brazzaville.

Today, Prof. Namboze is a board member of a number of NGOs as a public health consultant.