Veteran Kampala gynecologist dies in home garage after returning from burial

A veteran Kampala gynaecologist and former Busoga Kingdom health minister, Dr Ignatius James Batwala, died late Wednesday night after collapsing in the garage of his Ntinda home, hours after returning from a burial in eastern Uganda, his family told Monitor on Thursday.

Dr Batwala, 89, had travelled earlier in the day to Muguluka Village in Iganga District to attend the burial of a family friend and returned to Kampala in the evening, according to relatives.

Arnold Lwabi, a nephew who was called in to assist with first aid, said the doctor complained of feeling unwell shortly after arriving home on Semawatta Road in Ntinda.

“When they reached home, family members got out of the vehicle, but he said he was not feeling well and asked to rest in the car for a while,” Lwabi said.

After resting briefly, Dr Batwala attempted to step out of the vehicle but collapsed onto the garage door, prompting family members to raise alarm and call for an ambulance.

“They tried to offer first aid as they waited for the ambulance. He was rushed to Mulago hospital, but by the time they arrived, he had already passed on,” Lwabi said.

The incident occurred just minutes before the New Year, with Lwabi saying events unfolded between 10:30pm and 12:15am.

“He travelled for burial in Muguluka in Iganga district. He even spoke at the burial,” he said, adding: “The daughters say even when he was driving back, there were patients calling him for appointments and he fixed dates for them.”

Friends and relatives said Dr Batwala appeared well throughout the day.

Frederick Kibedi, who attended the same burial, said he sat next to the doctor during the ceremony and noticed nothing unusual.

“He didn’t look sick,” Kibedi said, noting that: “At around 11:40pm, the daughters called me and said the pressure had risen and that their father had died.”

Dr Batwala was a long-serving gynecology consultant at Mulago National Referral Hospital and later operated a private practice, Fiona Clinic, initially on Kampala Road before relocating it to his Ntinda residence.

He had celebrated his 89th birthday in November, according to family members.

By Thursday morning, mourners had begun gathering at the family home in Ntinda as burial arrangements were underway.

Dr Batwala also previously served as minister of health in the Busoga Kingdom and was widely regarded as one of Kampala’s most experienced gynaecologists, with decades of service in both public and private practice.

The family had not announced funeral arrangements by press time.