Ugandan doctor dies of Ebola in Liberia

By Clare Muhindo & Taddeo Bwambale

A Ugandan senior surgeon has succumbed to the Ebola virus in Liberia where he had been working for three years as a health specialist.

Dr. Samuel Muhumuza Mutoro died on Tuesday at the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre, Liberia’s biggest hospital in Monrovia where he was being treated.

Muhumuza was a surgeon assigned to Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town on a contract with the Liberian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At the time of his death, Muhumuza is said to have volunteered to treat a colleague who was infected with Ebola, thereby exposing himself to the deadly disease.

His wife, Diana Namusoke, a mother of three, told New Vision that the family was notified about his death by an official from Liberia’s government

Rev Jehoida Mutoro of South Rwenzori Diocese, the only brother of the deceased said the bereaved family have been advised against travelling to Liberia as earlier planned.

A requiem mass is scheduled this morning at 9:00am at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Costa Bwambale, a brother-in-law of the deceased, described the Muhumuza as a ‘very determined’ person, who even repeated class in order to achieve his dream of becoming a medical doctor

It is believed that yesterday Muhumuza’s remains were disposed of immediately since World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines recommend the immediate disposal of Ebola victims.

At his home in Mbaguta cell, Ruharo, in Mbarara neighbours gathered and held a wake to commiserate with the relatives.

With his earnings from Liberia, he had started the construction of a storeyed residential structure in Ruharo town suburbs.