Surgeon hangs up his gloves
Jan 26, 2004
OBITUARY<br><br>Professor Jovan William Mabudo Kiryabwire, who died of stomach cancer at the age of 75, worked as a consultant neurosurgeon at Mulago Hospital for almost 30 years, and was among the first African neurosurgeons in East and Central Africa.
OBITUARY
By Sheila Gashishiri
Professor Jovan William Mabudo Kiryabwire, who died of stomach cancer at the age of 75, worked as a consultant neurosurgeon at Mulago Hospital for almost 30 years, and was among the first African neurosurgeons in East and Central Africa.
He was very competence and for a very long time, both Kenya and Tanzania used him as a consultant. “Prof†as he liked to be called, was trained at the Royal College of Surgeons of England –– one of the premiere centres of neurological excellence in the world. He was very proud of this, but was not one to show off.
An intelligent and wise man, Kiryabwire often came up with phrases, such as “hurry slowly†to remind his students, who were younger and more energetic to be cautious in their haste.
Kiryabwire was born on October 28, 1928, to the late Ezeresi Namuzungu Saaba in a small county called Butebo in Pallisa District. His father died when he was still a young lad. Kiryabwire went to Butebo and Kamuge Primary Schools, after which he joined Nabumali High School for his secondary school education.
From 1952 to 1957, he pursued medicine at Makerere University Medical School.
Prof Kiryabwire is survived by a widow, Mary Aligawesa Kiryabwire and 9 children, including 2 medical doctors, with one training as a neurosurgeon; a veterinary doctor, a nurse, 2 engineers, a teacher, a lawyer and a judge.
Prof Francis Omaswa, the director general of health services, said : “He was a strong pillar of the medical profession in Uganda –– principled, straight, hardworking.â€
Dr Margaret Mungherera, the president of Uganda Medical Association said: “He was honest, hardworking and a devoted nationalist.â€
Many of his students work not only in Uganda, but all over the world.
Brig. Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Health, commended Kiryabwire as an icon of excellence and quality work in the rare and delicate specialty of brain surgery.
“He set up the first neurosurgical unit in the country, which was the best run in Mulago,†he said.
Outside work, Kiryabwire dedicated his time to God. “For many years, he was an active member of council and a warden at The All Saints Cathedral. He was also a keen reader of the scriptures,†said one of his sons.
In recent times, he had become a keen fan of the British Premier League and the German Bundeslega.
For his distinguished service, Prof Kiryabwire was decorated with The Uganda Independence Medical Medal. and The Medal of Commander of the Order of St. John Ambulance in the U.K.
Death has robbed our nation of a noble, dedicated and distinguished neurosurgeon.
OBITUARY
By FDR Gureme
I was impressed by the arrival of the hearse. Led by a smart parade of St John’s Ambulance Brigade, which he was a chairman and commander of until his death on January 17.
Reposing in an ivory hued casket, laid the symbol of one of Uganda’s most selfless hearts –– Professor Jovan William Mabudo Kiryabwire.
Rather exceptional was the presidential edict, communicated by Premier Apollo Nsibambi, that Kiryabwire was to be “an official†burial, and that the minister of Health would make the appropriate statement to Parliament.
Government contributed a record sh18m to Mary Kiryabwire and her family.
Among mourners, apart from members of the medical profession, were ministers, heads of institutions and top church dignitaries, led by retiring Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, who preached his typically concise sermon centred on the theme “The Lord cares,†to an overflowing cathedral and its premises.
And, why was there such a huge congregation? Because Kiryabwire had numerous friends and admirers. He was said to have largely been responsible for the development of the medical profession in Uganda and East Africa.
Speeches testified to his enviable virtues. Neurologists are scarce, and thus extremely marketable.
Kiryabwire declined attractive job offers abroad in favour of serving his people.
His sister recollects her suggestion that he establishes a private clinic, for which he said he did not have the time. To him, money was only secondary to the interests of being a “king†for his patients.
One of his former students, Prof Francis Omaswa, tells the story of some patients brought in on Christmas Eve. Kiryabwire, a family man, spent practically the entire Christmas Day meticulously working on them. While many of the “modern†scorn the “demands†of the extended family, Kiryabwire possibly aware of the pangs of want, was the hub of his Ngeye clan and the Butiko clan of his wife –– as testified by her uncle Rev Kefa Kagugube. Indeed, many other people owe their education to his generosity.
He had the rare quality of gentle persuasion, which was the reason he was able to get Idi Amin to provide the Medical Association with a club house along Katonga Road, to secure cars for doctors on hire purchase, and receive free cars for consultants from Amin.
The nearest he got to violent death, his son Justice Geoffrey Kiryabire recollects, was when a nursing sister, chased by armed soldiers, ran into his bedroom. He was carried off, in his nightgown, along with the woman, as his family mourned his “murder.†Somehow, he talked his way out of this predicament, and returned home with the freed nursing sister.
Justice Geoffrey said his father ran his family through mutual dialogue, which was one of the reasons they chose suitable professions.
By example, he shown them the value of the fear of God and of making friends.
Kiryabire loved agriculture, and although he lost a beef ranch to unruly operatives, he carried on at a smaller scale.
He loved fun and humour, too.
In his condolence message, Keith MacAdam, the son of veteran Mulago surgeon Ian MacAdam, reminisced about Kiryabwire’s infectious smile.
He was a Liverpool fan, and was never until he was recently hospitalised.
OBITUARY
By Moses Tibenderana
Prof†was a hard man to deal with. Hard, because he had principles that are rarely displayed these days.
He wanted you at work on time, no matter what.
He wanted the ward clean, no matter what. He wanted the patients cared for, no matter what. He wanted the operations done, no matter what, and he wanted his doctors to be up-to-date, no matter what.
Keeping up with him was quite a nightmare at times, but usually worth it. Once a person got into his routine, it was impossible to do otherwise.
“Oh! I forgot to do that,†was not tolerated. And, the patients benefited from this enormously. His staff did as well.
The ward was clean, the staff kind and polite, his team respected one another, and we were a shining example to Mulago hospital.
Rest in peace dear Prof. You shall be sorely missed.
By Sheila Gashishiri
Professor Jovan William Mabudo Kiryabwire, who died of stomach cancer at the age of 75, worked as a consultant neurosurgeon at Mulago Hospital for almost 30 years, and was among the first African neurosurgeons in East and Central Africa.
He was very competence and for a very long time, both Kenya and Tanzania used him as a consultant. “Prof†as he liked to be called, was trained at the Royal College of Surgeons of England –– one of the premiere centres of neurological excellence in the world. He was very proud of this, but was not one to show off.
An intelligent and wise man, Kiryabwire often came up with phrases, such as “hurry slowly†to remind his students, who were younger and more energetic to be cautious in their haste.
Kiryabwire was born on October 28, 1928, to the late Ezeresi Namuzungu Saaba in a small county called Butebo in Pallisa District. His father died when he was still a young lad. Kiryabwire went to Butebo and Kamuge Primary Schools, after which he joined Nabumali High School for his secondary school education.
From 1952 to 1957, he pursued medicine at Makerere University Medical School.
Prof Kiryabwire is survived by a widow, Mary Aligawesa Kiryabwire and 9 children, including 2 medical doctors, with one training as a neurosurgeon; a veterinary doctor, a nurse, 2 engineers, a teacher, a lawyer and a judge.
Prof Francis Omaswa, the director general of health services, said : “He was a strong pillar of the medical profession in Uganda –– principled, straight, hardworking.â€
Dr Margaret Mungherera, the president of Uganda Medical Association said: “He was honest, hardworking and a devoted nationalist.â€
Many of his students work not only in Uganda, but all over the world.
Brig. Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Health, commended Kiryabwire as an icon of excellence and quality work in the rare and delicate specialty of brain surgery.
“He set up the first neurosurgical unit in the country, which was the best run in Mulago,†he said.
Outside work, Kiryabwire dedicated his time to God. “For many years, he was an active member of council and a warden at The All Saints Cathedral. He was also a keen reader of the scriptures,†said one of his sons.
In recent times, he had become a keen fan of the British Premier League and the German Bundeslega.
For his distinguished service, Prof Kiryabwire was decorated with The Uganda Independence Medical Medal. and The Medal of Commander of the Order of St. John Ambulance in the U.K.
Death has robbed our nation of a noble, dedicated and distinguished neurosurgeon.
OBITUARY
By FDR Gureme
I was impressed by the arrival of the hearse. Led by a smart parade of St John’s Ambulance Brigade, which he was a chairman and commander of until his death on January 17.
Reposing in an ivory hued casket, laid the symbol of one of Uganda’s most selfless hearts –– Professor Jovan William Mabudo Kiryabwire.
Rather exceptional was the presidential edict, communicated by Premier Apollo Nsibambi, that Kiryabwire was to be “an official†burial, and that the minister of Health would make the appropriate statement to Parliament.
Government contributed a record sh18m to Mary Kiryabwire and her family.
Among mourners, apart from members of the medical profession, were ministers, heads of institutions and top church dignitaries, led by retiring Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, who preached his typically concise sermon centred on the theme “The Lord cares,†to an overflowing cathedral and its premises.
And, why was there such a huge congregation? Because Kiryabwire had numerous friends and admirers. He was said to have largely been responsible for the development of the medical profession in Uganda and East Africa.
Speeches testified to his enviable virtues. Neurologists are scarce, and thus extremely marketable.
Kiryabwire declined attractive job offers abroad in favour of serving his people.
His sister recollects her suggestion that he establishes a private clinic, for which he said he did not have the time. To him, money was only secondary to the interests of being a “king†for his patients.
One of his former students, Prof Francis Omaswa, tells the story of some patients brought in on Christmas Eve. Kiryabwire, a family man, spent practically the entire Christmas Day meticulously working on them. While many of the “modern†scorn the “demands†of the extended family, Kiryabwire possibly aware of the pangs of want, was the hub of his Ngeye clan and the Butiko clan of his wife –– as testified by her uncle Rev Kefa Kagugube. Indeed, many other people owe their education to his generosity.
He had the rare quality of gentle persuasion, which was the reason he was able to get Idi Amin to provide the Medical Association with a club house along Katonga Road, to secure cars for doctors on hire purchase, and receive free cars for consultants from Amin.
The nearest he got to violent death, his son Justice Geoffrey Kiryabire recollects, was when a nursing sister, chased by armed soldiers, ran into his bedroom. He was carried off, in his nightgown, along with the woman, as his family mourned his “murder.†Somehow, he talked his way out of this predicament, and returned home with the freed nursing sister.
Justice Geoffrey said his father ran his family through mutual dialogue, which was one of the reasons they chose suitable professions.
By example, he shown them the value of the fear of God and of making friends.
Kiryabire loved agriculture, and although he lost a beef ranch to unruly operatives, he carried on at a smaller scale.
He loved fun and humour, too.
In his condolence message, Keith MacAdam, the son of veteran Mulago surgeon Ian MacAdam, reminisced about Kiryabwire’s infectious smile.
He was a Liverpool fan, and was never until he was recently hospitalised.
OBITUARY
By Moses Tibenderana
Prof†was a hard man to deal with. Hard, because he had principles that are rarely displayed these days.
He wanted you at work on time, no matter what.
He wanted the ward clean, no matter what. He wanted the patients cared for, no matter what. He wanted the operations done, no matter what, and he wanted his doctors to be up-to-date, no matter what.
Keeping up with him was quite a nightmare at times, but usually worth it. Once a person got into his routine, it was impossible to do otherwise.
“Oh! I forgot to do that,†was not tolerated. And, the patients benefited from this enormously. His staff did as well.
The ward was clean, the staff kind and polite, his team respected one another, and we were a shining example to Mulago hospital.
Rest in peace dear Prof. You shall be sorely missed.