The President of the Uganda Medical Association, Dr. Frank Asiimwe, has shared a personal account of his journey into medicine, revealing that becoming a doctor was never part of his childhood dreams.
Speaking to Mildred Tuhaise during NBS People and Power on Sunday, Asiimwe traced his path from a modest upbringing in rural Uganda to becoming one of the country’s most respected medical leaders.
Growing up in Rushere, Asiimwe said his early school experiences were shaped by strict social norms and limited expectations. He recalled a memorable incident on his first day of primary school when he wore shoes, only to be told that footwear was reserved for teachers.
“I removed them, and the next day, I kept them in the bush,” he recalled, illustrating the humble environment that defined his formative years.
Asiimwe explained that his early ambitions were far removed from medicine. Like many children of his generation, he dreamed of becoming a truck driver or a pilot—careers he associated with adventure and freedom.
A turning point in his life came when he joined King’s College Budo for secondary education. There, he encountered students from diverse backgrounds and was immersed in an environment where English was spoken from morning to evening.
“It was the first time I encountered a wide variety of people my age,” he said, noting how the experience broadened his worldview and helped shape his academic discipline.
Asiimwe’s medical career took a more defined direction in the early 1990s. In 1993, while working at Isingiro Hospital, Asiimwe met Dr. Andrew Magezi, an encounter he described as pivotal. During this period, he was already undertaking a wide range of surgical procedures, gaining hands-on experience under challenging conditions.
By the end of his fourth year in 1994, he moved to Kagando Hospital, where he began his internship in April of that year—marking the formal start of his professional medical journey.
Reflecting on the realities of medical practice, Asiimwe challenged popular portrayals of surgery in films and television.
“Unlike in the movies, in surgery we are never in a hurry. Any doctor who tells you they are in a hurry to finish a surgery is not right,” he said
Asiimwe’s remarks underscored the importance of patience, precision, and care in medical practice—values he continues to champion as President of the Uganda Medical Association.
