Uganda's longest serving doctor passes on

By Taddeo Bwambale

UGANDA’S longest serving medical doctor, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, is dead. Ahmad owned one of Kampala city’s oldest clinics located on Entebbe Road.

In 2009, he was one of the over 20 foreign personalities who were honoured by the Pakistani government for outstanding service.

He was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz under the ‘Order of Excellence’ category for his humanitarian services in Uganda.

Ahmad saved the lives of Pakistani citizens and other foreign nationals when he made arrangements for a train to transport them to the Kenya border during the 1979 war that ousted Idi Amin.

Dr Ahmad was a cardiologist and specialist in tropical diseases, and started practicing medicine in Uganda in the 1950s.

He was also a personal doctor to a number of Buganda and Tooro kingdom royals.

“The family of Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, with great sorrow wishes to announce the passing of Dr. Ahmad this morning 11th November 2011, peacefully at 8.am,” the family said in a statement.

He is survived by his wife, Maherah Ahmad; his daughter, Hummaa Ahmad and a son, Dr. Musa Ahmad.