Prof. Namboze, first female doctor in East, Central Africa, Uganda, Golden Jubilee, 50 years

Apr 18, 2012

Today, AGNES KYOTALENGERIRE looks at the life and times of Prof. Josephine Namboze, East and Central Africa’s rst female medical doctor, former WHO representative to Botswana and former head of the institute of public health.

To mark 50 years of Uganda’s independence, New Vision will, until October 9, 2012, be publishing highlights of events and pro ling personalities who have shaped the history of this country. Today, AGNES KYOTALENGERIRE looks at the life and times of Prof. Josephine Namboze, East and Central Africa’s rst female medical doctor, former WHO representative to Botswana and former head of the institute of public health. 
 
Where there is a will, they say, there is always a way. As such, no amount of odds could stand in Josephine Namboze’s path to fame. Born to poor parents in a stereotype society where girls are viewed more in terms of bride wealth than education, Namboze was only saved by a scholarship her brains earned her. Then when she joined Mt. St. Mary's Namagunga for O’ Levels, there were no adequate facilities for science subjects.
 
But even that could not stop Namboze from becoming the first female medical doctor in East and Central Africa. To fulfi l her dream career, special arrangements had to be made for her to study at Namilyango College, a boys’ school. Today, this genius of a woman is not only an accomplished physician and professor, but also has to her title maternal and child health specialist and a public health consultant. She has earned herself a place in history as the pioneer female student in the medical school and first female professor in Africa.
 
Education back ground
Born in a committed Christian family, Prof. Namboze attended mainly missionary schools during the preindependence period. From St. Joseph’s Girls’ Primary School, Nsambya, she joined the prestigious Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga, but had to switch to Namilyango College under a special arrangement to enable her study sciences.
 
From a lowincome family but extremely bright, she managed to attain secondary school education by sitting for a special examination in addition to the Primary Leaving Examinations. “The passing of the exam entitled me to a full scholarship of sh100 per year, which was probably about $75 and which far exceed my parent’s income,” she said in an earlier interview. However, the secondary school she joined was new and typical stereotype of what a girls’ school should be.
 
“It was new with limited facilities for science subjects and poorly-equipped laboratories. After realising that I had potential, arrangements were made and I joined a boys’ school for additional science classes and practical work,” recalls Prof. Namboze. Adding that this was the fi rst time she was studying with boys. Toward the end of O’ level she expressed interest to study medicine and joined Makerere University College as it was then called.
 
She symbolised the long-awaited women’s representative at the faculty of science. Prof. Nambooze said during her time she was the only Ugandan girl at the medical school. “Probably there was no provision for female students in the original plan of the medical school. We were only seven in our class and all my colleagues treated me well and “ladies fi rst” was the familiar phrase. 
 
Back in her community, people were very excited and saw her as a redeemer since their village had never produced a doctor. “Many women would say to me “daughter or sister we admire your courage for venturing into a maledominated profession, we are proud of you and we pray for your success,” she said adding although at that time parents had reservations about sending girls to study with boys in secular institutions. They feared that it would negatively infl uence their morals and jeopardise the chances of attaining their goals.
 
Upon graduation, Prof. Namboze became famous overnight and the myth about women and medicine was dispelled. Many people wanted to see her, she had wide media coverage. The faculty of medicine honoured her with a reception and a present at the Dean’s residence, the late Prof. Alexander Galloway.
 
In 1959, Prof. Namboze had the honour to receive her licentiate in medicine and surgery from the Queen Mother as the Chancellor of London University to which Makerere University College was affi liated. This qualifi cation was later converted to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of surgery degrees when the University of East Africa was inaugurated.
 
Career journey
Since her graduation, Prof. Namboze went on to make many other achievements. In 1962, after completing her post-graduate studies overseas, she was appointed the fi rst medical offi cer at Kasangati teaching healthcentre for the medical school.
 
“She taught medical students, conducted research and provided health services to the community. She also introduced home visiting for community-based nurses,” said Dr. Sam Okware her former student and currently the director general, Uganda National Health Research Organisation. Dr. Okware added that she liked disease prevention, public and child health. As a result, there were positive results, people become healthier, illnesses reduced, while attendance for preventive services increased and infant mortality rates dropped.
 
As a lecturer at the medical school, she compiled the slogan of “publish or perish,” which enabled her to move up in the academic hierarchy from lecturer to professor and later to head of the institute of public health, a position she held from1978 to 1988. Professor Joseph Lule Konde acknowledges her for being dedicated to her duty, “though she had a family, she always did her work with dedication. She was a shining example of how dedication to service can pull someone to the top,” he said. 
 
Robert Ssebunya, the presidential advisor for Buganda Kingdom affirms that being the fi rst woman scientist, she inspired many young girls to study medicine and expel the fear that women could not study sciences. As a seed of her inspiration, Uganda got the fi rst woman with a degree in Mathematics, Prof. Williebrold Ssebunya. In regard, she visited schools and initiated campaigns encouraging and reassuring girls that they too could make it in the male dominated field. 
 
She was the fi rst woman to head a public health institute in Uganda. She also worked with World Health Organisation as the fi rst WHO Representative to Botswana, and Director of Support for Health Services Development at WHO regional offi ce in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo where she was responsible for a number of programmes for the 46 countries in the region. Today, Prof. Namboze is a board member of a number of NGOs as a public health consultant. She sits on the Butabika Hospital board and National Certifi cation Committee for Polio Eradication Initiative in Uganda.
 
The rocky path
Like any other woman academia, Prof. Namboze experienced a combination of career with motherhood and family life challenges plus other voluntary obligations particularly during a very diffi cult period in the country with shortage of everything including medical personnel. “Very often I had to work for long hours before I could complete all my domestic and employment related tasks because maternity which is a special need for women had not been introduced,” she said.
 
Besides she experienced problems with baby-sitters and had to take the baby to her mother’s place before going to teach at the medical school. While providing community services, Prof. Namboze said she had to drive an old-fashioned Land Rover vehicle, which was diffi cult to manoeuvre. “Knowing that I was the right person for the job, I decided not to complain to avoid any possible gender-related criticisms,” she said.

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