KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: The man on the spot in the stealing of a human kidney from a patient has been identified.
He is a neurosurgeon who has worked for both Mulago hospital but is often hired to take on delicate surgeries around the country.
He goes by three official names but we will use of them- Dr. Alex WM for now after legal advice.
Dr. Alex was the lead surgeon during a surgery on 25-year-old Muhammad Kabanda, a trader in St Balikudembe Market. Kabanda resides at Gangu village along Busabala road in Wakiso District. A lead doctor is in full charge of the operation until the patient is discharged.
Kabanda’s plight came to light on Wednesday when he told a press conference he was operated on September 24, 2022 after a boda boda accident along Lukuli road.
He says he was charged Sh3. 35 million as hospital fees.
“Although I was admitted with head injuries, I raised up with bandages on my abdomen. I tried asking the doctors what had happened, he said they removed some flesh inside to put on the face where the operation was done, something I did not find satisfying in the explanation, ” Kabanda said.
Newsday has seen a telephone conversation between Dr. Alex WM and Kabanda after the complainant intensified his curiosity.
Dr. Alex WM in the messages tells Kabanda to do an MRI scan if he were discontented.
“We have done it,” Kanda replies. He said he has visited three hospitals all of which confirmed his kidney had been removed.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said on Wednesday said they had summoned the hospital administration to record a statement.
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said he was taking up litigation.
Other than working at the National Referral Hospital Mulago, Dr Alex WM also owns a health facility in Kiyindi, Buikwe District. We will not name the facility for now.
He is one of the fewest neurosurgeons in the country. A neurosurgeon is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
Despite the “surgeon” part of the word, neurosurgeons provide both surgical and nonsurgical treatments.
Among the list of the few neurosurgeons we have in the country is Dr Joel Kiryabwire, Dr Alex Wamala Mugalu, Dr Alexander Muhindo, Dr Daniel Muhumuza and Dr Michael Edgar Muhumuza. Others include Neurosurgeons include Dr John Baptist Nsubuga Mukasa, Dr Juliet Sekabunga Nalwanga, Dr Doomwin Obiga, Dr Justin Onen and Dr Peter Kato Ssenyonga
In Uganda’s hospital, a neurosurgeon is paid something as USh949,065 to USh3,382,959 per month.
For one to become a neurosurgeon, it takes approximately 16 years of higher education, including four years for a bachelor’s degree, another four years for a doctorate, followed by a one-year internship in surgery, and a seven-year residency.
Illegal
It is illegal in Uganda to trade in body organs. However in June 2020, Uganda’s cabinet approved the human organ donation bill dubbed the Uganda Human Organ Donation and Tissue Transplant Bill that seeks to establish a legal framework for human organs, cells transplant in Uganda and also regulate donations and trade in human organs, cells and tissue for the safety and security of Ugandans.
There is talk of Uganda’s hospitals illegally harvesting body organs from patients. Former spokesperson to the President Tamale Mirundi pinned a hospital in Kampala for killing his daughter and taking away her body organs.
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