Dr Obote no longer on call
Mar 11, 2007
IN 2005, a woman travelled from Kabale to Mulago Hospital with a chicken. She had brought the chicken in appreciation of a successful operation that Obote had carried out on her for free. Recently, another woman also brought a chicken for the doctor, but she was told that he was dead.
,b>By Raphael Okello
IN 2005, a woman travelled from Kabale to Mulago Hospital with a chicken. She wandered through the hospital looking for Dr. William Obote. “She had brought the chicken in appreciation of a successful operation that Obote had carried out on her for free,†Obote’s elder brother, William Otim said, drawing laughter from mourners who had gathered at Kampala Pentecostal Church last Thursday for Obote’s funeral service.
“Recently, another woman also brought a chicken for the doctor, but she was told that he was dead,†Otim added. His statements dramatically cast a poignant mood on the mourners.
Obote’s body lay in the exact place where his mother’s lay barely four months before, which was also the last time Dr. Obote’s siblings saw him.
Speaker after speaker had something amazing to say about Obote. Considering the circumstances, many would have thought the cheery disposition in which his funeral service was held was unusual.
Relatives, friends, MPs, ministers, Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor Livingstone Luboobi and other university staff gathered to celebrate Obote’s life.
Such was the life of Obote that the story of his life can change someone. He was a friend and counsellor to many, a compassionate, committed, meticulous, versatile and a highly ethical doctor.
As a student of Bachelor of Medicine in surgery at Makerere University, Obote was a ‘data bank’ — willing to share information with other students. He developed into an exceptional and exemplary doctor, surgeon and university lecturer.
Being one of three keyhole surgeons (a rare surgical procedure, which does not involve cutting open a patient, but using tubes to operate), his death has created an unfathomable gap in the health sector.
“We work so hard to get people of his skill and professionalism. It is difficult for me to talk about the magnitude of such loss. Someone will tell you how much it takes to build someone of his calibre,†Dr Emmanuel Ssekasavu, Obote’s friend said.
If his skill and professionalism were venerable, it was the level of his patriotism that continues to astound the university staff and medical society. Luboobi said Obote’s death had robbed the university and nation of an industrious person.
“Some might argue that with time, he will be replaced, but it is not easy to train a doctor. And even if you do, it is not easy to get somebody who will be as dedicated to serve his people, as Obote did,†Luboobi said.
According to him, many doctors prefer to leave for greener pastures, but Obote stayed to serve Ugandans. His phone was never switched off and he was available 24 hours.
Obote’s funeral was filled with glorious tales of a doctor whose life transcended many people’s expectations.
Even when there was no hope that a patient could recover after surgery, Obote would still give it a try. And during each operation, he scanned inch by inch for a disease until he was satisfied with his results.
“When you remember that, it makes you wonder and cry. This man has passed on, but has he had people caring for him like he did to others?†Ssekasavu said.
What he gave was never measured by what he received. Money was a secondary quest. Many times he operated on the poor for free. Minister for lands Omara Atubo revealed how Obote declined to get money that Atubo had offered in appreciation of an operation that the doctor carried out on his son.
“He said he would call me later. It is six years since and he has never called. He did not have greed for money, a vice that is killing many of us in this country,†said Atubo.
And when his brothers tried to convince him to open up a clinic so that he would make more money, Obote laughed it off.
He believed that he would get rich by planting trees and at the time of his death, he had planted 5,000 trees. He also once joked that he could get rich if he treated many people like Martin Otim, the hydrocell patient, whose plight The New Vision extensively profiled in 2005.
Sometimes his humanitarianism drove him to risk his life. In 1996, after acquiring a Masters in Surgery, every week he travelled through the rebel-infested areas in the north, to treat patients and provide consultancy in Lira. His desire to improve medical services in Lango compelled him to teach, train and mentor medical officers at the hospital.
In the village, whenever word passed that he was around, many flocked his compound with various problems. He treated most and referred others. He was a widely-travelled and learned man who read and debated on history, economics and geography. He contributed more than 10 clinical attachments worldwide. In Uganda, he provided his expertise in many clinics and hospitals.
Obote’s last show of commitment and dedication to serve Ugandans was an operation he carried out when he was not feeling well. “We had advised him to pass on the patient to another doctor, but he said he would be able to operate,†Ssekasavu explained. Despite every effort he made to save people’s lives, his could not be saved.
In November 2006, just before his mother died, Obote complained of constant headache. He was diagnosed with secondary high blood pressure, a result of a problem he had in his childhood. The doctors said it could be controlled.
Shortly before his death, he got a fever and was advised to take bed rest. He decided to go for a holiday in London, where Beatrice Ebong, his sister lives.
As soon as he arrived, his situation got worse and he was admitted in St Mary’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and put on life support for some time. On Friday February 16, 2007, he died.
“He was more than a brother to me. We were very intimate. His world made my world. I know him as a doctor of the spiritual life to our family,†Ebong said.
Obote became a born-again Christian in 1984 and since then, he convinced his seven siblings to become saved. He was the sixth-born.
Because his birthday, October 9, coincided with the day Uganda attained her independence, William was named Obote Loc-ken, the Luo variant of independence.
So his birth 44 years ago would eventually bestow medical freedom to millions held bondage by disease.
He was not married, but always told his brother that he was still searching. He is survived by two children; Tony Ogwang Obote, who completed A’ Level recently and Daniel Omara, a three-year-old, whom he adopted. Omara’s mother lost her life to the LRA rebels in 2005.
Obote was laid to rest in his home village on Saturday, March 3, at Ober Kampala in Lira.
Academic Qualifications1969-1976 Adyel and Anyeke primary schools 1977-1984: Dr Obote College Boroboro 1985- 1990: Bachelors of Medicine (surgery) at Makerere University 1992: Intern at Nsambya Hospital and registered as a medical officer 1992-1995: Was appointed senior registrar in surgery at Mulago Referral Hospital 1996: Awarded a Masters of Medicine in Surgery 1996: Specialist and lecturer in the Department of Surgery at Makerere University Medical School Achievements: Presented over eight scientific papers Published more than 10 articles in peer review journals Supervised about five post-graduate dissertations Contributed more than 10 clinical attachments Obtained more than five memberships and fellowship from professional associations Executive member on the appointment board of Uganda National Institute of Special Education Member of Faculty of Research Ethical Committee in the Faculty of Medicine Committee Member of Mulago Hospital Laboratory Member of the Management Board at KADIC Hospital Visiting consultant surgeon to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Visiting surgeon and clinical director, Lira Medical Centre Governing councillor at Kampala Pentecostal Church for over 15 years Member of the translating and voice recording team of the Jesus film in Luo
IN 2005, a woman travelled from Kabale to Mulago Hospital with a chicken. She wandered through the hospital looking for Dr. William Obote. “She had brought the chicken in appreciation of a successful operation that Obote had carried out on her for free,†Obote’s elder brother, William Otim said, drawing laughter from mourners who had gathered at Kampala Pentecostal Church last Thursday for Obote’s funeral service.
“Recently, another woman also brought a chicken for the doctor, but she was told that he was dead,†Otim added. His statements dramatically cast a poignant mood on the mourners.
Obote’s body lay in the exact place where his mother’s lay barely four months before, which was also the last time Dr. Obote’s siblings saw him.
Speaker after speaker had something amazing to say about Obote. Considering the circumstances, many would have thought the cheery disposition in which his funeral service was held was unusual.
Relatives, friends, MPs, ministers, Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor Livingstone Luboobi and other university staff gathered to celebrate Obote’s life.
Such was the life of Obote that the story of his life can change someone. He was a friend and counsellor to many, a compassionate, committed, meticulous, versatile and a highly ethical doctor.
As a student of Bachelor of Medicine in surgery at Makerere University, Obote was a ‘data bank’ — willing to share information with other students. He developed into an exceptional and exemplary doctor, surgeon and university lecturer.
Being one of three keyhole surgeons (a rare surgical procedure, which does not involve cutting open a patient, but using tubes to operate), his death has created an unfathomable gap in the health sector.
“We work so hard to get people of his skill and professionalism. It is difficult for me to talk about the magnitude of such loss. Someone will tell you how much it takes to build someone of his calibre,†Dr Emmanuel Ssekasavu, Obote’s friend said.
If his skill and professionalism were venerable, it was the level of his patriotism that continues to astound the university staff and medical society. Luboobi said Obote’s death had robbed the university and nation of an industrious person.
“Some might argue that with time, he will be replaced, but it is not easy to train a doctor. And even if you do, it is not easy to get somebody who will be as dedicated to serve his people, as Obote did,†Luboobi said.
According to him, many doctors prefer to leave for greener pastures, but Obote stayed to serve Ugandans. His phone was never switched off and he was available 24 hours.
Obote’s funeral was filled with glorious tales of a doctor whose life transcended many people’s expectations.
Even when there was no hope that a patient could recover after surgery, Obote would still give it a try. And during each operation, he scanned inch by inch for a disease until he was satisfied with his results.
“When you remember that, it makes you wonder and cry. This man has passed on, but has he had people caring for him like he did to others?†Ssekasavu said.
What he gave was never measured by what he received. Money was a secondary quest. Many times he operated on the poor for free. Minister for lands Omara Atubo revealed how Obote declined to get money that Atubo had offered in appreciation of an operation that the doctor carried out on his son.
“He said he would call me later. It is six years since and he has never called. He did not have greed for money, a vice that is killing many of us in this country,†said Atubo.
And when his brothers tried to convince him to open up a clinic so that he would make more money, Obote laughed it off.
He believed that he would get rich by planting trees and at the time of his death, he had planted 5,000 trees. He also once joked that he could get rich if he treated many people like Martin Otim, the hydrocell patient, whose plight The New Vision extensively profiled in 2005.
Sometimes his humanitarianism drove him to risk his life. In 1996, after acquiring a Masters in Surgery, every week he travelled through the rebel-infested areas in the north, to treat patients and provide consultancy in Lira. His desire to improve medical services in Lango compelled him to teach, train and mentor medical officers at the hospital.
In the village, whenever word passed that he was around, many flocked his compound with various problems. He treated most and referred others. He was a widely-travelled and learned man who read and debated on history, economics and geography. He contributed more than 10 clinical attachments worldwide. In Uganda, he provided his expertise in many clinics and hospitals.
Obote’s last show of commitment and dedication to serve Ugandans was an operation he carried out when he was not feeling well. “We had advised him to pass on the patient to another doctor, but he said he would be able to operate,†Ssekasavu explained. Despite every effort he made to save people’s lives, his could not be saved.
In November 2006, just before his mother died, Obote complained of constant headache. He was diagnosed with secondary high blood pressure, a result of a problem he had in his childhood. The doctors said it could be controlled.
Shortly before his death, he got a fever and was advised to take bed rest. He decided to go for a holiday in London, where Beatrice Ebong, his sister lives.
As soon as he arrived, his situation got worse and he was admitted in St Mary’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and put on life support for some time. On Friday February 16, 2007, he died.
“He was more than a brother to me. We were very intimate. His world made my world. I know him as a doctor of the spiritual life to our family,†Ebong said.
Obote became a born-again Christian in 1984 and since then, he convinced his seven siblings to become saved. He was the sixth-born.
Because his birthday, October 9, coincided with the day Uganda attained her independence, William was named Obote Loc-ken, the Luo variant of independence.
So his birth 44 years ago would eventually bestow medical freedom to millions held bondage by disease.
He was not married, but always told his brother that he was still searching. He is survived by two children; Tony Ogwang Obote, who completed A’ Level recently and Daniel Omara, a three-year-old, whom he adopted. Omara’s mother lost her life to the LRA rebels in 2005.
Obote was laid to rest in his home village on Saturday, March 3, at Ober Kampala in Lira.
Academic Qualifications