The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Dr Ignatius James Batwala, a distinguished medical practitioner and former Cabinet Minister in the Busoga Kingdom.
In a message posted on his official X account on Thursday, the Kyabazinga described the late Batwala as a towering figure in Uganda’s medical fraternity whose work left a lasting legacy.
“It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the loss of Dr Ignatius James Batwala, a prominent medical authority and former Cabinet Minister, whose steadfast commitment to obstetrics and gynecology has had a profound and lasting legacy,” the Kyabazinga said.
According to reports, Batwala passed away on New Year’s Eve after collapsing in the garage of his home in Ntinda, Kampala, hours after returning from a burial.
He was 89.
Earlier that day, the veteran gynecologist had travelled to Muguluka Village in Iganga District to attend the burial of a family friend.
He returned to Kampala in the evening, where he later collapsed and died.
By Thursday morning, mourners had begun gathering at his Ntinda residence as preparations for burial commenced, with relatives, colleagues, former patients and community members paying their respects.
Batwala was widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most experienced and respected gynecologists, having served for decades in both public and private practice.
He was a long-serving consultant at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he played a key role in mentoring generations of medical professionals and advancing maternal health care services.
After leaving Mulago, Batwala established a private medical practice, Fiona Clinic, which initially operated on Kampala Road before later being relocated to his residence in Ntinda.
Through the clinic, he continued to offer specialised care to women well into his later years.
Beyond his medical career, Batwala also served as Minister of Health in the Busoga Kingdom, contributing to policy and advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in the region.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the country, with many remembering him as a dedicated physician, compassionate caregiver and public servant whose work had a lasting impact on Uganda’s health sector.
By press time, funeral and burial arrangements were yet to be formally announced by the family.
