CONCEPT PAPER
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
HISTORY OF ONE EAST AFRICA’S OLDEST MEDICAL
DEPARTMENTS; HUMAN ANATOMY AT MAKERERE
UNIVERSITY, UGANDA.
By Masilili Godfrey Mwarisi
DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
TIME FRAME: AUGUST 2018 –AUGUST 2019
Background
Ugandan Anatomy Teachers and Students formed the Anatomical Association of Uganda
(AAU) in 2014 (1). Formation of AAU is against the backdrop of many earlier
meetings/conferences of anatomy teachers in Uganda and East Africa generally. Notable
among them was the one held in Arusha Tanzania in 1992 (9). The Arusha meeting resolved to
form the Anatomical Society of East Africa. This did not take place. On 26th March 2018 a
similar regional meeting was held at Pwani University, Kilifi in Mombasa, Kenya. It was
hosted by Prof. Hassannali. AAU was represented at the conference which drew participants
from the East and Central African region. In attendance was the President of the International
Federation of the Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), Prof. Beverly Kramer from South
Africa. During this Anatomy meeting it was resolved, among other things, that the History of
one of East Africa’s oldest Medical Departments i.e. Human Anatomy, Makerere University
be written. We also resolved to form the Anatomical Society of East and Central Africa
(ASECA) and to join IFAA. Some other resolutions of the proceedings of the conference,
appeared in the issue of the plexus newsletter of Issue One, 2018 (2).
The department of Human Anatomy is probably as old as Makerere University itself.
Anatomy has been taught since 1923 when the Medical School started by Dr. H.B. Owen.
Makerere Medical School, is the oldest Medical School in East Africa. The first students were
also taught by Sir Albert Ruskin Cook at Mengo Hospital (11). It was officially recognized as a
Medical School in 1924 and part of Makerere University then Makerere Technical College (6).
The students qualified as Native Medical Assistants. These were later upgraded to Doctors.
This was done during the colonial government. Learning Anatomy by dissection started in
1928 when the first medical school building was completed. Mulago became the Teaching
Hospital of Makerere Medical School (5).
This history can be divided into:
1. Anatomy during the Colonial Period (1923 and 1962)
Medical education and education generally was introduced by the colonialists. These
were assisted by missionaries. Prof/Dr. Galloway was the outstanding personality during
the period. He is credited with starting the Galloway Bone Collection Museum (10).
2. The situation after independence -Obote I (1962-1971):
Immediately after independence the situation was generally good in the health delivery
system. This meant anatomy teachers were well paid like other professions. Research was
vibrant with the introduction of the electron microscope. The most influential teachers of
Anatomy during that period were Professors Allbrook and Haines (7).
3. Africanisation of the economy 1971-1980
This was the period when President Iddi Amin was in power in Uganda. The economic
war led to the expulsion of many foreigners from the country especially the Indian Asians.
Many doctors left the country because of the situation. In 1979 Iddi Amin was overthrown
after a bitter war led by Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) backed by Tanzanians.
Prof. Peter Hermit Sebuwufu inherited the department from our foreign Professors.
4. The period from 1980 to-date
After the 1980 elections the country was plunged into another (civil) war. This was led by
the current President Y.K. Museveni. He took over government in 1986 after
overthrowing the Obote II and General Tito Okello regime. Stanely Tumwine was Prof
and Head of the Department after Prof Sebuwufu joined politics in 1980. Prof Luboga
Samuel A. took over from Tumwine who became a minster in President Museveni’s
Government in 1986. Other heads after Luboga are; Profs Nzarubara GR, Ibingira CBR,
Ochieng J. and Dr. Buwembo W. (the current Chair).
Human anatomy is taught in many Universities and Paramedical institutions around the
country. It is usually the first among the basic medical sciences to be taught. Human Anatomy
department at Makerere University has been linked with Mulago and other Hospitals in
sharing staff and teaching undergraduate, post graduate and paramedical students. There has
been a special link with Health Tutors College.
The department now belongs to the school of Biomedical Sciences under Makerere University
College of Health Sciences following the policy of introducing the collegiate system in 2007.
It has attracted collaborations and visiting teachers. One notable collaboration was with the
Universities of Liverpool and Uppsala. These have helped to train people like Drs. Luboga
Samuel, Bataringaya Juliet and Buwembo William. Some influential visiting Professors in the
recent past were; El Guiziri (Egypt), Obuoforibo A. (Nigeria), E.E. Sarmiento (USA) and
Stevenson (USA).
In writing this history we will be partly responding to the resolution at the Kilifi meeting and
for ourselves to see reason and show commitment in keeping the departments records. To
accomplish this task we need commitment, expertise, funding. We should be aware that
Anatomy is a sensitive subject/profession worldwide and writing history of such a
department/subject may mean divulging some sensitive information. In our situation the
political upheavals and instability that the country and sub region went through could have
affected the activities of the department.
Materials and Methods
The area to be studied is the department of Human Anatomy, Makerere University College of
Health Sciences. The history will be organised on qualitative-historical study design (11) with a
combination of methods to get data about the subject. These will include:
1) Photography
2) Audio recordings
3) Video recordings
4) Document review which will include Internet archives
5) Oral history
6) Cassette and digital recordings
We will read and review old documents (which will include Internet archives) and books and
collect old photographs and take new ones for the record. A set of questions will be prepared
for the oral interviews with audio recordings with- the-still- living members of staff and
former heads and the current Head/Chair of the department. Cassette and digital recordings
will be used to store the data. We intend to reach Profs Peter H. Sebuwufu, Stanley Tumwine,
Samuel A. Luboga, Gabriel R. Nzarubara, Charles Ibingira, Joseph Ochieng, Dr. William
Buwembo, Mr. Gaster Othieno and Ms. Naiga Rehema. More data will obtained Prof. E.E.M.
Bukenya (formerly of Veterinary Anatomy, Makerere but now at Kampala International
University, KIU). He did Human Anatomy and Zoology as an undergraduate together with
Gaster Othieno. He will provide some insights about vet anatomy vis a vis human anatomy.
We intend to reach other people we think can provide information about the department as
time may permit.
Data from the above sources will be analysed at primary, secondary and tertiary levels in
consultation with a historian. We expect good and relevant history which will be carefully
evaluated and interpreted of linking causes and effects. Significance should be assigned to
actions, ideas and events with relevant explanations (3, 4).
Statement of the problem
History of a department is essential for the records. Current evidence shows that the
department have performed poorly at this. This is unfortunate. Medical education has
undergone and still undergoes many changes, some positive; some negative. Capturing these
changes gives one an opportunity to evaluate the past to devise means for improvement.
Anatomy is a foundational/basic medical science. The success of good Medicare partly
depends on trainees having a firm grip of the knowledge and practice of the subject. Being the
oldest department of Anatomy in East Africa puts it at a special position to guide similar
departments how things were run in the past, how they are running now and suggestions how
they should run in future. Records about the department are scattered. There is therefore need
to put this information in one piece for future reference.
Aim
To describe the History of the Department of Human Anatomy, Makerere University College
Sciences.
Objectives
1. To describe personalities that have influenced events in the department in teaching
and learning, and research over the years
2. To determine factors that have influenced the major events in the department
3. To establish the weaknesses and strengths of the department in training Health
Professionals and Anatomy teachers at the different stages of the history of the
department.
4. To evaluate the role of the department in forming and embracing formation of
professional anatomy bodies nationally and internationally.
Significance
Anatomy has been taught for many years in Uganda. We would like to improve visibility of
our department as proof of this. This can be done by digging through our records mentioning
and recognizing personalities that have participated in shaping the department and
highlighting the events as they unfolded over the years. We have had our ups and downs.
Record keeping is a noble job for any academic department and for professional bodies like
the AAU and ASECA as they are being formed.
Writing the History of Anatomy is like carrying out an audit on the subject/department in
Uganda. Being that it is not the most attractive of subjects/disciplines especially for students
and for making money, we would want to see how those who worked in the department were
able to cope with these challenges in the past. We want to know how the learning and
teaching of anatomy took place in the past and compare with the present. We need to critically
examine the past and present and knowledgeably plan for the future. There is need to plan for
student recruitment and staff development, funding and to develop insights for good/effective
teaching and learning of the subject.
Expected outputs and outcomes
1. A book
2. Publications
3. Improving and enriching our website
4. Improving the visibility of the department
Time Line - Period of Twelve Months
TIME Remarks/Person or People responsible
August and Developing a concept paper The author to research widely and make
September and proposal contacts with key people; former
2018 heads/chair and staff and students
October and Soliciting for funding Needhelp from the department
November administration, Dean and Principal
2018
December Taking new The author will contact key people;
2018- March photographs and former heads/chair and staff and
2019 reviewing past ones students for help
Reviewing old Need staff from the department of
documents including medical illustration
internet archives
April and May Audio and Video recordings The author will formulate questions
2019 and review for key people; former heads/chair
and staff and students for their
responses
Need a audio and video recorder ;
Cassettes, CDs and digital
recording facilities
June to August Analysing the data and The author needs a Historian
2019 writing the History We need staff from the department
of Medical Illustration
Need a book publishing company
and Journal
BUDGETARY ESTIMATE
S/No Item Estimated cost
1 Developing a concept paper and proposal 1,000$
2 Soliciting for funding 500$
3 Taking new photographs and swotting old 2,500$
ones
Reviewing old documents including
internet archives
Audio and Video recordings and review
4 Hiring a medical illustrator and 2 Research 2,000$
Assistants
6 Hiring a historian 2,000$
7 Analysing the data and writing the History 2,000$
Total 10,000$
Bibliography
1. Masilili GM & Echoru I (2014) Proceedings of the first veterinary and human
anatomy teachers in Uganda held at St Augustine International University Bunga on
the 18th, July 2014.)
2. http://www.ifaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Plexus-2018-Issue-1.pdf
3. https: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/recorded-history
4. https://www.southwestern.edu/live/files/4173-guide-for-writing-in-history pgf guide
for writing i history
5. Odonga A.M. (1989). Makerere Medical School 1924-1974. Marianum Press, Kasubi
6. https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1299896/makerere-university-brief-
historical-background
7. https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/biogs/E005741b.htm
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ruskin_Cook
9. Luboga S.A. & Muwazi R., (1992). Proceedings of The first Anatomy Subject Meeting
in East Africa held in Arusha, 3rd – 5th June 1992
10. https://www.google.com/search?
biw=1102&bih=502&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=h1G4Wp6NLoarUYilpbgG&q=sir+alexander+
galloway+makerere&oq=sir+alexander+galloway+makerere&gs
11. https://www.google.com/search?
q=study+designs+in+research&oq=STUDY+DESIGNS+IN+&aqs=chrome.0.0j69
i57j0l4.17960j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
