Catherine Muwumuza is one of the few trained hospital administrators in the country whose general healthcare system is already understaffed. She works with Ray of Hope Medical Centre in Ntinda and its sister branch in Kakiri.
Muwumuza studied International Business and Administration with majors in financial stock markets at the United States International University Africa, in Nairobi. Upon graduation, Muwumuza returned home only to find her mother’s health centre struggling to stay afloat.
Her mother had plans of shutting it down due to management issues. All her children, including Muwumuza, had very different dreams that did not include the operation of the health facility.
Knowing how passionate her mother was about the clinic she started in their home garage back in the day, Muwumuza was hit by something to think about.
“I could not let my mother’s efforts go to waste. So, I decided to take up management since my mother had retired and she couldn’t run it effectively,” Muwumuza says.
From the day she took up management, Muwumuza felt a special attachment to the health facility and patients.
“I am always at work by 7am and leave after 9pm. I stay awake trying to think of how to run the hospital,” she says.
To her, working in a health centre comes with many fulfillments since she enjoys helping people. In order to serve better, Muwumuza enrolled for an online master’s program in hospital management at Walden University. She also pursued a leadership course to consolidate her skills.
Born 27 years ago to Pastor John Mubiru and Monique Mubiru, a medical doctor, Muwumuza was raised in Ntinda. She went to St Francis primary school in Ntinda before joining Ntinda View College for her O-level. She later joined London College of St Lawrence for her A-level studies.
FINDING PASSION
Muwumuza maintains that managing her mother’s healthy facility opened up her eyes to her true passion – healthcare.
“I cannot believe it took me this long to realize that my passion was actually healthcare, and not business,” exclaims Muwumuza.
To carve out a niche in healthcare, she started a healthcare innovation agency that deals with brilliant critical thinkers, especially the technology-driven youths, to develop solutions to the most pressing healthcare problems.
In a few months’ time, Muwumuza’s think tank, which comprises of both medical and non-medical critical thinkers, will unveil an innovation which she anticipates to be a game changer in maternal health.
“My dream is to one day be able to have a solution to healthcare issues that are not just money-based, but offer real solutions to our health problems,” she says.
Late last year, she took part in the Vodafone-sponsored ‘I Create Tomorrow’ health tour to the United Kingdom where she met several healthcare innovators. The event inspired her to partner other like-minded people to positively impact the healthcare sector.
“I want to do a master’s degree in healthcare innovations,” declares a smiling Muwumuza, adding that she would like to see more youths take part in improving the healthcare system in whichever way they can, especially using technology which many of them are good at.
“Healthcare has been left for only doctors and nurses. This is not enough to turn the sector around. I wish to see more specialized healthcare courses in our local universities.”
In her limited free time, Muwumuza enjoys watching documentaries and reading books.
“I have a book with me at every single moment,” she says, pulling In Pursuit of Purpose by Dr Myles Munroe out of her black leather handbag.
About her ideal man, Muwumuza wants a like-minded man who can challenge her since she easily gets bored with mediocre minds.
“He must love Uganda as much as I do,” laughs Muwumuza, shortly before declaring that the man in question already exists in her life.
pbaike@yahoo.com