Fare Thee Well, Dr Edward Kigonya – New Vision

The late Dr Edward Kigonya

He was a great teacher and mentor to many of his students, who will never forget his integrity and love for medicine.

CELEBRATING LIFE

Dr Edward Kigonya was born in 1941 to Joseph Wasswa Masanso and Angella Namusoke of Bugonzi, Masaka.

He attended Kibanda Primary School, St Henry's College Kitovu (for his O-Level and A- Level education).

He then joined Lovanium University in Kishansha (DRC), in 1962 to pursue his first degree in Medicine; and graduated from Makerere University with a Masters in Medicine in 1974.

He met his wife Dr Rosemary Nakasi Nsibirwa (RIP) at Makerere University and they were officially wed in 1973. He then went on to do a fellowship in Nephrology at Glasgow University in Scotland.

Dr Kigonya was a loving father to John, Peter, Edward, Simon, Kate, Angella, Rose and Maria and is fondly remembered by his grandchildren Joshua, Rachael, Jonathan, Oliver, Luca, Mathew, Rosie, Daudi Junior and Edward.

He was a very loving uncle to multitudes of his nieces and nephews who dearly loved and cared for him.

He was a great teacher and mentor to many of his students, who will never forget his integrity and love for medicine.

Dr Kigonya has had a very successful and long career as a medical practitioner in Uganda.

He served as Medical Superintendent of Mulago Hospital and a Senior Consultant Physician, also heading the department of Nephrology.

He was the Chairman of the Board of Governors of St Francis Hospital, Nsambya from 2001, co-founder of Kampala Hospital and lectured at many medical schools.

Together with his wife, Dr Rose Kigonya, they founded Nile Clinic, a general practice that had its home first in Najjanankumbi, then Nkrumah Road, and later on Kampala Road.

He has served as Board member on other organisations and made a great contribution in the field of medicine. He also served as the President of the African Medical Association.

He also represented the Medical workers to the Buganda Lukiiko in 2009.

Tributes from the family members

Susan Nsibirwa

Uncle Eddie was full of life, the heart of the party who always loved to have his family abnd friends around him.

Sunday afternoons in Mbuya were our normal. Easter celebrations, Christmas, Boxing Day, there was never a day that was not worth a celebration.

A true definition of what family is; the bonds that tie us, and make us enjoy each other's company.

He was proud of each of us, our achievements in life - and always introduced us to his guests with a tone of pride in his voice.

Before a meal, he always told us to give thanks, not to ask. It is hard not to think of him as our late Senga Rose's better half, the two doctors at Nile Clinic- a powerful tag team, whether at Mulago or in their personal space.

He had conquered so much, influenced so many, taught hundreds, only to slip away unnoticed on a quiet Monday night.

But we give thanks to God all the same!! How can we not celebrate our MTN Marathon running Uncle, a senior medical practitioner, a father, grandfather, uncle, friend!! Sunday afternoons will be hardly the sane. Indeed family celebrations will never be the same. Rest in peace, Uncle Eddie.

Margaret Nakkato Nsibirwa

Uncle Eddy will be truly missed and fondly remembered for his smile. Whenever he shared his many stories, he always had this contagious smile.

Uncle Eddie loved his relatives, and enjoyed entertaining all of us.

Uncle would always tell me, "Nakato, you should have been in marketing." He probably saw something that I did not see of myself.

He was a story teller. We all looked forward to listening to his stories. We shall miss him. May he rest in peace.

Dr Ssentamu Timothy, Orthopedic Surgeon

Dear Uncle, from rags you picked me, at a tender age of 13, when I lost my dad and everything turned dark.

You told me not to worry and you stepped into my life. You took me to the best schools in the country and took care of every aspect of my life, together with my seven siblings.

Even when you didn't have enough for yourself, you made sure we had everything we needed.

Yet we are just a small number out of the multitudes whose lives you touched socially, morally and professionally.

The Lord has chosen to take you at a time when we needed to celebrate these successes. The world mourns you, but I chose to celebrate you, Uncle.

We miss you dearly, but I know you are in a better place because you served the will of the Most High God.

Angella Kigonya Muwanguzi

If there is one thing we knew about Daddy, it is that he enjoyed his life; even the simplest of things were an opportunity for him to celebrate and have a good time.

This is why he always had people over on Sunday. To us his children, we will always treasure the love, the sacrifice, and the care that daddy showed us unconditionally.

We are comforted by the truth that daddy lived a beautiful life, he did what he loved and he was admired and loved by many.

He was very generous and compassionate. His legacy will live on through us. We love you forever daddy.

Kasalina, Simon, Maria and Rose Kigonya

Daddy was an amazing man. He lived a life of love, dedication, commitment, devotion to those he loved, those he knew and all who came to know him.

And that is exactly what we want this to be. A celebration of an amazing man.

"And which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (Timothy 1:10).

And so we celebrate a legacy of a life well lived; a legacy of devotion to all he knew.

Dad worked in Mulago together with our mom for practically all their lives.

They could have taken up lots of opportunities to work abroad but they desired to serve their country and serve it they did.

We haven't met a single doctor who didn't tell us they were either taught by our father, or they were impacted by him in one way or another.

He loved people, loved to be around people. He loved to celebrate them in all their accomplishments in life and he loved to support them as they made their way in life.

Dad loved his children, both biological and non-biological. He sacrificed everything for them.

We celebrate an amazing man, a legacy of devotion, commitment, love, joy.

The Hon Maria Kiwanuka

Uncle Kigonya was fun for everybody, the teens in particular. You would go to his residence in Nakasero and find in his seating room dozens of his students.

The students would pretend to be visiting him, but actually, their true intention is to drink beer.

I remember one occasion when Deborah Lule declined to eat Matooke because of ulcers and uncle told him, "Sorry, but good enough, the ulcers don't prevent you from taking a beer."

Uncle was always very happy whenever he saw us achieving. We are going to miss him a lot.

The Hon Rhoda Kalema

Our brother in-law, Dr Kigonya loved our sister in a way that is beyond human understanding.

He also extended his love to all of us his in-laws. He also always gave special attention to his children. I appeal to our children to remain united.

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Fare Thee Well, Dr Edward Kigonya - New Vision