Celebrating 100 Years

th
25 February 2016

DR. E.B.S.LUMU

A Pictorial Biography
Dr. E.B.S. Lumu Ugandas first Minister
of Health 1962-1966 after the countrys
independence from the British. An
alumnus of Kings College Budo Old
Budonian and a highly qualified
Medical Doctor.
EARLY LIFE

Dr. Emmanuel Bijjugo Sajjalyabene Lumu usually known as Dr.

E.B.S. Lumu was born in Komamboga Kampala, Uganda on 25th
February 1916 to Michael Sajjalyabene of fumbe clan and Hannah
Nalwanga of mpeewo clan.
PARENTS

Father - Michael (Mikaili) Mikaili and brothers Mother -Hannah Nalwanga

Sajjalyabene

Mikaili Sajjalyabene was a Clerk of Court. He was a son of Rev. Nuwa

Kikwabanga one of the first Protestant native clergy in Uganda and Mariam
Namitanda Kagyankemba.
Back:Andrew Luboyera; Reverend W.S.R. Russell; Joshua Kamulegeya; Rev. W.B.Gill; Sepiriya Kaddu-Mukasa; Matia Wamala
Sitting: Serwano Wofunira Kulubya; Kupuliyano Bisase Kisosonkole; Michael Sajjalyabene
Reverend W.B. Gill was Headmaster of Busoga College Mwiri - January 1911 to December 1912
GRANDPARENTS
MARIAM NAMITANDA KAGYANKEMBA

Dr. Lumu spent much of his childhood

under the guardianship of his paternal
grandmother Mariam Namitanda
Kagyankemba (mother of Mikaili
Sajjalyabene).

In 1945 With paternal grandmother Mariamu Namitanda

Kagyankemba
CHRISTINA NANTEZA

His aunt Christina Nanteza (sister of

Mikaili Sajjalyabene) an old girl of
Gayaza High School and one of its
first students also had a lot to do
with Dr. Lumus commitment to
learning.
NUWA KIKWABANGA
Rev. Nuwa Kikwabanga father of Mikaili Sajjalyabene, was one of the first native clergy in
Uganda. Nuwa was an expert on Swahili which he learnt during his travels to the coast of
East Africa with Bishop Alfred Tucker ((first Anglican Bishop of Uganda), George L.
Pilkington, Baskerville and Henry Morton Stanley. It was during such journeys that he
taught them Luganda.

In 1890, when Bishop Tucker commissioned George L. Pilkington to translate the Bible from
Swahili into Luganda, Nuwa among others helped in the translation.

In 1894 Nuwa Kikwabanga started evangelism in Busoga and was ordained deacon in 1896
by Bishop Tucker. In September 1897, during the mutiny by Nubian troops against the British
in Eastern Uganda, Pilkington was killed. He mourned the death of his friend Pilkington but
also saved the life of another friend; Rev. H. W. Weatherheads life was saved by Nuwa
Kikwabanga when he carried him away and hid him in a swamp.
In 1899 Nuwa Kikwabanga was ordained and became priest of the Church of Uganda. He was
one of the first native clergy in Uganda. Dr. Lumu never met his grandfather although he
fondly referred to him as Mukadde wa Kanisa.
Nuwa Kikwabanga died of sleeping sickness in 1905.
(Rev. H.W. Weatherhead also called Sabaganzi was founder (with Bishop Tucker) and first
headmaster of Kings College Budo from 1906-1912)
FAMILY
Dr Emmanuel Lumu married Theresa
Mary Nabayego Lumu (RIP) daughter of
Pokino Alexis Sebbowa and Maria
Nvanungi Nalubega Kitata of Kijjomanyi,
Masaka and granddaughter of Kabaka
Mwangas Katikiro Mukasa.

Mrs. Mary Lumu died on 15th March 2011.

1955 At Kiwenda Home with his Opel Kaptain URB612_red colour with white top
Bakuli Home in the 1950s

With Hannah and Mum at Bulange in 1954

SCHOOL
Dr. Lumus very early schooling was at
Kyebando near his parents home. He
later joined Mengo Junior School.

In 1933, he joined Kings College Budo.

1933 at Budo (l) with Kantinti

1933 at Kings College Budo Canada House (first left second row standing in black jacket)
1934 at Kings College Budo with Class Teacher Mr Kayizzi (back row right)
1934 at Kings College Budo with the ladies and pupils from the junior school.
1935 Kings College Budo
1936 Kings College Budo (standing back row first left)
1937 Kings College Budo
MEDICAL TRAINING

AT THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

In 1938 Dr. Lumu enrolled in the School of

Medicine at Makerere University College of East
Africa, the oldest medical school in Eastern
Africa. Given a choice, he would have gone for
Engineering but was selected for Medicine. He
dreamt of becoming an engineer instead as he
demonstrated later in life-the love of cars.
On one occasion, he was caught attending a
lecture in the School of Engineering. Thats how
much he wanted to be an engineer. In 1945,
after six years of studying Medicine, Dr. Lumu
graduated and received a Diploma in Medicine
(East Africa) as an Assistant Medical Officer
(AMO). Although he had qualified as Doctor of
Medicine, the AMO Diploma is what qualified
medical practitioners became after six years of Dr. Emmanuel Lumu at Makerere University of East
Africa Medical School 1940
study at Makerere then.
INTERNSHIP
After graduation, Dr. Lumu was then faced with two
years of apprenticeship as a hospital intern. This he
recalls was a stressful period, as a young practitioner
he lived close to the hospital, sometimes slept in the
wards, was permanently on call, and was at
everyones disposal, although like many fellow
practitioners, came to look back on it as invaluable
experience.
His first posting was Arua in the government hospital
near the Sudanese border. Although well trained, he
said that he was not prepared for all the emergencies
he would meet. As quoted by Iliffe, On my very first
day of duty at the district hospital I was required to do
three caesarian sections and one strangulated hernia.
Government hospitals then did not have a maternity
unit of any kind, and apart from what I learnt as a
student, I had not had the opportunity to revise let
alone improve on it and here I was confronted by three
caesarian sections.
Dr. Lumu also worked in Gulu Hospital and later
Mulago Hospital.
1948 Dr. Lumu (standing second from left )
at the doctors house in Arua.
LICENTIATESHIP IN MEDICINE
After internship, medical practitioners were
supposed to serve government for five years after
which they qualified for Licentiateship in Medicine. In
1949, Makerere, became a University College
affiliated to the University College of London,
offering courses leading to the general degrees of
its then mother institution except in medicine.

The main concern of the members of the African

Medical Graduates Association was the
regularization of the graduates status. Although
many in practice served as doctors, and the training
was similar to that offered in Britain, they were still
known as African Assistant Medical Officers. In 1953,
the Diploma was renamed Licentiateship in Medicine
and Surgery.

On 10 December 1955, Dr. Lumu was admitted by the

Academic Board as a Licentiate in Medicine and
Surgery and became an LMS.
BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY_
M.B CH.B
Seeking professional legitimacy and the ability to establish private practices, Makerere
graduates fought to have their medical degrees recognized by Britains General
Medical Council and in 1957, recognition allowing registration with the General Medical
Council in the UK finally came. It was decided that all holders of the Licentiateship in
Medicine and Surgery (LMS) should be given better pay. They were earning Ush2000 a
huge salary in those days. The Assistant Medical Officers (AMOs) welcomed better pay.
However, they were still pressing for professional recognition.
The AMOs resented the title Assistant Medical Officer. They felt that they should be
fully recognized as medical doctors and carry the title doctor since they were doing the
work of doctors. Britains General Medical Council eventually decided that all holders of
the LMS should gain registration and become Doctors. Makerere University was a
University College. With the establishment of the University of East Africa in June 29, 1963
after Independence, the special relationship with the University of London came to a
close and degrees of the University of East Africa were instituted.
In the 1964 graduation ceremony over
150 doctors, including all the senior
Ugandan staff at the Ministry of
health, were belatedly awarded
the Makerere M.B Ch.B. degree. Dr.
Emmanuel Lumu among other holders
of the LMS was awarded the M.B Ch.B
(Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of
Surgery). The qualification for which
he deserved established himself as a
medical doctor.
The ceremony was presided over by
Julius Nyerere.
POLITICAL CAREER
In the late 1950s, Dr. Lumu became interested in
politics, he joined Kabaka Yekka (KY) and was
made one of the members of Lukiiko-Mengo.
When the first Uganda Constitutional Conference
on the Constitution of an independent Uganda
opened on 18 September 1961, at Lancaster
House in London, Dr. Lumu is proud to have been
among 110 Ugandans who participated in the
conference at the Lancaster House in London
ahead of Ugandas independence.
The Buganda Kingdom delegation was headed by
M. Kintu (Katikiro). The other delegates were Dr.
E.B.S. Lumu, A.K. Sempa, L.N. Basudde, A.D.
Lubowa, E.M.K. Muwazi, E.W. Kiggundu, and
Fred Mpanga. The most important outcome of
the Conference was that the parties to the
negotiations agreed that Uganda would attain
full Independence on 9 October 1962.
First Uganda Constitutional Conference at Lancaster House in London 1961
Dr. Lumu with Leonard N. Basudde
Bugandas Minister of Natural Resources
In Mbarara visiting Grace Ibingira In Mbarara visiting Grace Ibingira
Buganda Lukiiko electing Member to National Assembly
1961 Dr. Lumu with Amos Sempa at Jubilee Palace in Addis Ababa Ethiopia
1961 ELECTIONS
When the first important elections were held
in Uganda in 1961 to determine the country's
future, there were three important political
parties: the Democratic Party (DP), the
Kabaka Yekka, and the Uganda Peoples
Congress (UPC).

The Democratic Party swept the Buganda

elections and won enough votes in the rest
of Uganda to secure the largest
representation in the legislature.
Benedicto Kiwanuka the leader of DP
was asked to form a government, and
on July 1, 1961 he became the first chief
minister of Uganda.

On March 1, 1962 he was appointed

Ugandas first prime minister in the
new National Assembly. Dr. Lumu was
Member of Parliament for Kyadondo
North (Wakiso) then.
1962, Dr. Lumu with Benedicto Kiwanuka
THE POLITICAL ALLIANCE
However, new elections were held in April 1962. A political alliance was
formed between UPC and KY to defeat DP.
DP lost to the alliance of UPC and the Buganda traditionalist party, KY.
After the elections, UPC and KY formed a coalition government and
Obote became the Prime Minister. Kabaka Muteesa II became the first
President of Uganda.
When Uganda attained independence in 1962, under the leadership of
Apollo Milton Obote as Prime Minister and Kabaka Muteesa II as
President, a cabinet was formed. The first cabinet had 17 ministers and 11
parliamentary secretaries (equivalent of ministers of state) selected by
the National Assembly.
Dr. Emmanuel Lumu selected by the National Assembly, was appointed
Minister of Health.
 AS UGANDS FIRST MINISTER OF HEALTH
THE FIRST CABINET 1962

B/ROW: Balaki Kirya; J.W. Lwamafa; George Magezi; Mathias Ngobi; John Babiiha; Kalule-Ssetaala; A.A. Nekyon; N.M.M.Patel
F/ROW: Luyimbazi Zake; C. Obwangor; W.W. Nadiope; A.Sempa; A.M.Obote; Grace Ibingira; J.T. Simpson; Dr. E.B.S. Lumu; Felix K. Onama
OPENING CEREMONY OF NEW MULAGO HOSPITAL

October 1962 Dr. Lumu with HRH The Duchess of Kent at the Opening Ceremony of New Mulago Hospital
1962 Mulago Senior Staff Conference
1962: Presentation of Independence Medals to Mulago Senior Staff at Ministry of Health Headquarters Entebbe
1962 Visit to Gulu Hospital 1962 Visit to Kalongo Hospital

TOUR OF NORTHERN REGION HOSPITALS

TOUR OF WESTERN REGION
HOSPITALS
1962 Dr Lumu at Kisiizi Hospital in
Rukungiri, Western Uganda

1962 Bunyonyi Lepers Settlement in

Kabale, Western Uganda
1962 At Sir Samuel Baker Camp with Dr. Kafuko and Dr. Asea
20 February 1962 Dr. Lumu with Prof. Milnes Walker,
(President of the Association of Surgeons of Great
Britain and Ireland 1961, and President of the
Surgical Research Society 1962-64) at a dinner in
Kampala
1963 American Medical Association, USA
1963 American Medical Association, USA
1963 with Dr. Davies and Mr. West
1963 April: African Ministers Conference on Food and Nutrition at Lake Garda, Italy
1963 Mulago Senior Staff Conference
1964 Dr. Lumu Minister of Health and Dr.
Kadama, P.S. Ministry of Health receiving
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia on his
visit to Mulago Hospital.
Dr Kyalwazi ; Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia ; Dr. Lumu 1964
1964: Dr Lumu with the President of Uganda HRH The Kabaka of Buganda Sir Edward
Muteesa at a cocktail
1964 Mulago Senior Staff Conference
1964 with Dr. Stephen Bosa
H.H. the Aga Khan Prince Shah Karim al Hussain
Jayant Madhvani
In 1964
Participating in running and
games during a visit ti the
Madhvanis residence Kakira
May 1965 in Geneva with Dr.
Kafuko and Dr. Kadama
Party other doctors 1965
Mr John Croot of the Fellowship of the Royal College Prof. D.B Jelliffe
of Surgeons (FRCS)
Eighteenth World Health Assembly,
Geneva 4-21 May, 1965 organized by
the World Health Organization (WHO)
Delegates from Uganda: Dr E. B.
Lumu_Sajjalyabene, Minister of Health
-(Chief Delegate);
Dr I. S. Kadama, Chief Medical Officer;
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Health; and Dr N. O. Edyegu, Senior
Medical Officer
 1971 January Kololo Airstrip from political detention with
Grace Ibingira, Balaki Kirya, Cuthbert Obwangor, Dr. Lumu and Mathias Ngobi
1975 Holy Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France
At the Surgery with Tendo 1994 With Emma at Bakuli 2004
December 2008 at Bakuli
 2016

Happy Birthday 100