Dr John Spire Kiggundu, who passed on June 21 aged just 48 after a heart attack, may have lived a down-to-earth lifestyle, but behind the scenes, he greatly impacted the healthcare of thousands of people.
As GEOFREY SERUGO notes, the medical fraternity, particularly the Makindye-Ssabagabo community, will feel a significant void in Kiggundu’s demise. A doctor touching thousands of lives, he was comfortable living in the shadow of his younger outspoken sibling, Dr Jim Spire Ssentongo, a very influential social critic.
Interestingly, both have been known as Dr Spire. How their parents came up with almost similar names is a topic for another day, but perhaps the answer lies in the obsession by the father, Joseph Spire Mutawonga, with the name.
My basic knowledge suggests that, since Mutawonga was a devout Catholic, he chose to associate his name with the spire, which is a symbol of a tall, pointed structure on top of a cathedral.
In fact, their careers are so intertwined, yet they lived totally different lives. While Kiggundu pursued a career in medicine, Ssentongo preferred philosophy, and interestingly, both their works have lasting legacies. I didn’t know anything about Dr Kiggundu until his death, but from testimonies of different people he inspired, I felt the urge to pen a fitting tribute.
What we know is that in 2003, he started the clinic with his wife, Dr Bernadette Nakabazzi, while he lived in UK. It was moved to a single room in Zzana near their home in 2005, upon his return from UK. They named it Henrob after their children, Henry and Robert.
By 2010, Kiggundu decided he had had enough of earning a salary as a medical doctor at different hospitals. Having built his house around Zzana on the outskirts of Kampala city, he realised there was a huge gap in healthcare and took the risky path to set up his own medical facility.
Yeah, it is well known that doctors rarely take on entrepreneurship roles because they prefer to thrive on the ‘gig’ economy of working at different facilities. For Kiggundu, who was already working with Kisubi hospital, all he had before setting up his Henrob clinic was his expertise as a gynaecologist, but he was determined to not only enhance his career but also create a positive impact on the community.
Victor Ocaya, who mentored Dr Kiggundu after the death of his father in 1993, says he was a trailblazer.
“Dr Spire was in Senior Three when his father passed away, and we journeyed through life together. I am proud of the man he became,” he says.
He had a genuine devotion and conviction to helping the sick and adhered to it strictly. When I got infected with Covid-19, I turned to him, and he did everything possible to ensure I healed. Such a selfless life we will miss.”
Meanwhile, Michael Kayongo, the area LCI chairman of Kirimanyanga, where the hospital is located, recalled how Kiggundu set up the facility that would transform the community healthcare.
“I had known him as one of the brightest students in secondary school, and when he sought my endorsement to set up the clinic, I did not hesitate. I do that for every person, but what I didn’t know about Kiggundu was the grand ambition of setting up a full-fledged hospital in the future,” he said.
“He transformed our community by providing low-cost medical services. We have been blessed over the years to see the clinic grow into a full-fledged hospital, and we will greatly miss him.”
At Henrob, Dr Kiggundu did the unthinkable when he introduced a heal- first-pay-later strategy. Jane Nalunga, a resident of Zzana, says Dr Kiggundu was God-sent.
“He greatly interacted with the community to understand our challenges. We were not used to walking into a medical facility well assured that your health matters before anything. We were used to going to such facilities with cash, but Dr Spire changed everything when he ensured that patients first get healed before paying.
At Henrob, we have been assured of medication without worrying about the costs. Unfortunately, many people in the community abused his generosity, but he did not care that much because he believed in his cause. Some people even saw him as a political threat because of his generosity.”
At the time of Dr Kiggundu’s death, he had set up Henrob as one of the very few health facilities nationwide to earn high ratings for safety, quality, and patient experience from patients. Specialists at Henrob Hospital treat a full range of medical conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings in Uganda.
“Our outpatient care also includes makeshift Family Health Centres at the community level with a growing network that brings our world-class medical services directly to the communities where our patients live and work. When more complex care is needed, we bridge the gap between our community-based practices and our hospital to provide a seamless healthcare experience,” says Dr Nyanzi Patrick, a gynaecologist at Henrob Hospital, who describes Dr Kiggundu as irreplaceable.
“When you think about laparoscopy, you think about him. He had an immeasurable impact on society and generously shared his knowledge with anyone eager to learn in the medical field,” he said.
Dr Justine Nalumansi Walusimbi, the human resources officer at Henrob Hospital, says Dr Spire had a deep love for the staff.
“Even when he had no specific duties at the facility, he would pass by just to check on us. He mentored each of us, regardless of our education level. He formed lasting relationships and would step in for other doctors when needed. He was an exceptionally hard-working man,” she notes.
She adds that the best way to honour Dr. Spire’s legacy is to continue working diligently to fulfil his vision. At the funeral, Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere, the former Buganda katikkiro, praised Dr Kiggundu’s close ties with the kingdom, noting that he actively participated and supported its activities.
“Many of you may not know, but he always provided Henrob’s ambulance for emergency services during the Kabaka’s birthday run. He also regularly contributed financially to the kingdom (oluwalo) and loved it dearly,” he said.
“The biggest lesson to take from Dr Kiggundu is to let your works do the talking. He cherished his work in the background. At the time of his death, he had just established a fertility clinic in Lubowa called FemCare. At the time of his death, he had just established a fertility clinic in Lubowa called FemCare along with three other gynaecologists. Amidst all this, it remains to be seen how his investment in the health sector will move forward, but there is no denying that Dr Kiggundu’s death leaves a huge void for the Namasuba/Zzana community.
WHO WAS DR SPIRE KIGGUNDU?
Born on September 18, 1977, to Joseph Spire Mutawonga and Elizabeth Mutawonga (both deceased), he attended Kimanya Blessed Sacrament Primary School in Masaka, St Henry’s College Kitovu, St Bernard’s College Kisweera for O-level and Masaka Secondary School for A-level.
He went on to pursue a diploma in orthopaedics, followed by a degree in medicine and surgery at Makerere University. He later attained a master’s degree in obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as advanced training in laparoscopy, embryology, and reproductive health in India.
Dr Kiggundu often provided medical services on credit at Henrob Hospital, allowing patients to pay over extended periods. He was driven by a mission to make a meaningful difference. He travelled widely across the world to advocate for women’s representation and to improve healthcare in Uganda and East Africa.
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