Uganda’s First Female Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Jamirah Namusoke Dies
By Skika Reporter.
Uganda’s first female orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Jamirah Namusoke, has died following a battle with advanced kidney disease, about ten months after a public fundraising campaign was launched to raise Shs200 million for her kidney transplant.
Dr Namusoke, who served as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, died on Friday, November 6, 2026, according to a statement issued by the hospital management.
In a condolence message, the hospital described her as a dedicated medical professional whose contribution to healthcare and the institution would remain memorable.
The hospital said Dr Namusoke was more than a surgeon, describing her as a life-saver whose skills, commitment and compassion transformed the lives of many patients.
One of her notable contributions was helping save the life of British tourist and philanthropist Samuel Leeds, who sustained serious injuries in a rafting accident on River Nile in 2019.
Moved by the treatment he received, Leeds later donated Shs1 billion through the Samuel Leeds Foundation towards the construction and equipping of an orthopaedic ward at Jinja Hospital, which was named after him.
In a social media tribute, Leeds described Dr Namusoke as one of the few orthopaedic surgeons in Uganda who operated on him when he was critically ill, adding that her legacy would continue to live on through the lives she saved.
Dr Namusoke began her medical career in 1995 as a qualified dispenser at Entebbe Grade A Hospital before pursuing medical studies between 1999 and 2004. She later obtained a Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery and joined Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in 2016.
Beyond treating patients, she helped develop the hospital’s orthopaedic department into a postgraduate teaching centre and lectured at Kampala International University, inspiring young medical professionals, particularly women, to pursue surgery.
Her death has come months after friends, colleagues and well-wishers appealed for about 55,000 dollars, equivalent to Shs200 million, to facilitate her kidney transplant abroad.
The Uganda Medical Association President, Dr Frank Asiimwe, said he had learnt about her death through social media and was yet to obtain further details.
Dr Namusoke is remembered as a pioneer who broke barriers in a male-dominated medical specialty and dedicated her career to restoring mobility and dignity to patients.
