Africa-Press – Uganda. The Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has called on health professionals and policymakers to prioritise the development of primary and rural healthcare services, with a special emphasis on oral health.
Speaking during a farewell ceremony of Dr John Chapman Kigozi at Bulange, Mengo, the Katikkiro underscored the critical role dental care plays in the overall well-being and development of Uganda’s rural communities.
The occasion was organised in honour of Dr. John Chapman Kigozi, a pioneering dental surgeon and founding head of the dental unit at Mengo Hospital, who has retired after 45 years of dedicated service.
Dr. Kigozi first established the dental department at Mengo Hospital in 1979 during the presidency of Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa.
Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and trained over 1,000 dental professionals, significantly shaping the landscape of dental healthcare in Uganda.
In his remarks, Katikkiro Mayiga lauded Dr. Kigozi for his decades of outstanding service to the people of Buganda and Uganda at large.
“Your tireless work has laid the foundation for a robust dental care system, and your mentorship has ensured continuity in this vital field,” the Katikkiro said. “As you retire, your legacy lives on through the many professionals you have trained and inspired.”
The Katikkiro emphasised the urgent need to extend similar healthcare services to underserved rural populations, noting that primary healthcare, especially dental care, remains a neglected area despite its importance to national health and development.
“Oral health is central to general health, yet many rural communities still lack access to even basic dental services,” he said. “It is time we invested more in these essential services across Uganda.”
Representatives from Mengo Hospital, where Dr. Kigozi has worked since its dental department’s inception, commended his unwavering dedication, professionalism, and compassion.
They described him as a cornerstone of Uganda’s dental healthcare system whose impact will be felt for generations to come.
Dr. Kigozi, who is returning to the United States with his wife, Nampijja Chapman, delivered an emotional farewell speech in Luganda, expressing gratitude to the Kingdom of Buganda, Maaso Mogi, and the Ugandan people for their warmth, acceptance, and continued support.
He expressed deep appreciation for the Kingdom’s gesture of honouring him with a commemorative stone in 2023 and for embracing his family as one of their own.
“I may be retiring, but I leave behind a strong team of competent dental professionals who will carry forward the mission of providing quality oral healthcare,” Dr. Kigozi assured the gathering.
The ceremony was marked by warm tributes, symbolic gifts from the Kingdom, and a reaffirmation of Buganda’s commitment to health sector development. Dr. Kigozi’s departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Uganda’s medical history but also a renewed call to action for equitable healthcare development across the country.
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