Uganda's first female orthopaedic surgeon seeks Shs200m for kidney transplant

For decades, Dr Jamirah Namusoke has been a lifeline to patients who walk into hospital wards in pain, fear and uncertainty. As Uganda’s first female orthopaedic surgeon, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field and dedicated her life to restoring mobility and dignity to countless people. Today, the doctor who has healed so many now urgently needs healing herself.

Dr Namusoke is battling advanced kidney disease and requires an urgent kidney transplant abroad. The life-saving procedure and related care are estimated to cost about $55,000 (approximately Shs200 million), a sum far beyond the reach of an individual public servant in Uganda. Friends, colleagues and well-wishers have therefore launched a public appeal to raise the funds needed to save her life.

Those who know Dr Namusoke describe her as compassionate, tireless and deeply committed to service. Even as her health has deteriorated, she has continued to show up for her patients and students whenever she can, driven by a strong sense of duty and love for her work.

Her selfless service once touched a life that would later come full circle. In 2019, Dr Namusoke was part of the team that treated Samuel Leeds, a UK tourist and philanthropist who sustained serious injuries while rafting on the River Nile.

Moved by the care he received, Mr Leeds, through the Samuel Leeds Foundation, later donated Shs1 billion to build and equip an orthopaedic ward at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, where Dr Namusoke works. It was a powerful reminder that compassion often returns in unexpected ways.

Now, as she faces her own medical crisis, many are hoping that the same spirit of generosity will be extended to her.

Dr Namusoke’s journey is one of resilience and quiet excellence. She began her career in 1995 as a qualified dispenser at Entebbe Grade A Hospital. Determined to do more, she pursued medicine between 1999 and 2004, later serving as a medical officer at Kibuli Hospital.

Her passion for orthopaedics led her to further studies, and she graduated with a Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery. Since 2016, she has worked at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, helping to grow the orthopaedic department into a teaching centre for postgraduate students. She also lectures at Kampala International University, inspiring many young women to consider careers in surgery.

A mother and wife, Dr Namusoke traces her education to Bukoyo Primary School in Iganga, and later Tororo and Nabisunsa Girls’ schools. Her life story mirrors that of many Ugandans who rise through determination, faith, and service to others.