Ugandan cardiologist dies in South Africa
Jan 24, 2009
NELSON Mandela Academic Hospital in South Africa is mourning the death of a Uganda-born cardiologist who had been head of it cancer department for the last 10 years.
NELSON Mandela Academic Hospital in South Africa is mourning the death of a Uganda-born cardiologist who had been head of it cancer department for the last 10 years.
The 66-year-old prof. David Mugwanya died on January 8, following what his official obituary called a short illness.
Mugwanya, an old boy of Ntare School was the first black cardiothoracic (heart and throat) surgeon in South Africa.
He moved there in 1981 from Scotland where he had earned his cardiothoracic surgery degree from the University of Glasgow which he had joined in 1965.
The professor worked in the Transkei region and was the first surgeon to perform a close heart surgery in that region.
He first worked as a surgeon at the Nelson Mandela Academic hospital. He was later appointed as medical professor at the university attached to the same hospital. He also headed the cardio surgery department at the university. In 1988 established a cancer department at the university and the hospital and has headed it to the time of his death.
The hospital spokesperson said it will be difficult to find a replacement that would fit Mugwanya shoes because “they are very few people with the skills that he possessedâ€.
Mugwanya was married to a South Africa lady called Vatiswa and is survived by two daughters Tendai and Emma as well as a granddaughter Songesiwe.
Compiled by Lydia Namubiru
The 66-year-old prof. David Mugwanya died on January 8, following what his official obituary called a short illness.
Mugwanya, an old boy of Ntare School was the first black cardiothoracic (heart and throat) surgeon in South Africa.
He moved there in 1981 from Scotland where he had earned his cardiothoracic surgery degree from the University of Glasgow which he had joined in 1965.
The professor worked in the Transkei region and was the first surgeon to perform a close heart surgery in that region.
He first worked as a surgeon at the Nelson Mandela Academic hospital. He was later appointed as medical professor at the university attached to the same hospital. He also headed the cardio surgery department at the university. In 1988 established a cancer department at the university and the hospital and has headed it to the time of his death.
The hospital spokesperson said it will be difficult to find a replacement that would fit Mugwanya shoes because “they are very few people with the skills that he possessedâ€.
Mugwanya was married to a South Africa lady called Vatiswa and is survived by two daughters Tendai and Emma as well as a granddaughter Songesiwe.
Compiled by Lydia Namubiru