HE CARETH FOR YOU: AS VICTORIA MEDICAL CENTRE MARKS 25 YEARS, A TRIBUTE TO DR. GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA ITS FOUNDER

The year 2014 marks 25 years since Dr. George William Mayanja (RIP) came back to Uganda and started Victoria Medical Centre at Spear House. The Centre was named after his Late mother Victoria. It was indeed a great innovation in the medical services in Uganda, and many successful private medical undertakings in Uganda learnt a lot from the innovation.

I cannot forget Dr. Mayanja as he interested me into St. Mary's College Kisubi Old Boys' business. I have since managed to mobilize the Old Boys of the school, I was able to single-handedly work as editor of SMACK centenary Magazine, and have written 10 publications related to SMACK. This would not have been possible if Dr. Mayanja had not interested me into this.

"May his soul rest in eternal peace"

William Kituuka Kiwanuka.

Buganda Kingdom mourned the fallen Doctor

Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II described the late Dr. George William Mayanja Ddamulira as one of the most talented doctors this country has had.

This was in his message read for him by Prince David Wasajja during a Requiem Mass for the fallen doctor at Christ the King Church on Tuesday morning.

Kabaka said that Dr. Mayanja was greatly talented in providing the appropriate advice at the right time for his patients.

Dr. Mayanja was remembered for his great services to the Kingdom of Buganda especially as a special doctor for the royal family and acting as their medical consultant at any given time on any form of medical advice. He served the royal family with a sincere heart and was always available each time he was called upon and was of great help to our people during his stay in the Diaspora. Kabaka recalled.

Kabaka Mutebi commended the late Mayanja for the love he had for the Kingdom of Buganda, the King and above all the respect he had for his cultural norms and values.

He appealed to the remaining staff at Victoria Medical Center where the late has been serving as managing director to maintain the standards as one of the trusted hospitals in this country despite his departure.

In his condolence message, Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi described Dr. Mayanja as a very loving man who loved his wife, family and patients.

Katikkiro recalled that he met Mayanja at Kisubi as a young enterprising boy, who late grew to become a very kind and professional doctor.

He remarked that God gives us people to live with and it lives a very big gap when such people depart from us He added that at most times, such people are remembered due to their importance in our lives.

Katikkiro observed that Dr. Mayanja has been one of the best doctors in Buganda and Uganda who has been working on all kinds of people including very important dignitaries in this country.

He thanked the fallen doctor for having saved Kabaka`s people`s lives in Buganda since his return from the Diaspora in 1990.

Eng Walusimbi on behalf of the Kingdom thanked God for the good life He gave to Dr. George William Mayanja Ddamulira that has been full of wonderful fruits.

THE TESTIMONIES ABOUT THE LATE DR GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA SHOW THAT HE WAS A MAN FOR THE OTHERS

THE TESTIMONIES GIVEN ABOUT THE LATE DOCTOR :

Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II described the Late Doctor as one of the most talented. Kabaka said that Dr. Mayanja was greatly talented in providing the appropriate advice at the right time for his patients. Dr. Mayanja would be remembered for his great services to the Kingdom of Buganda especially as a special doctor for the royal family and acting as their Medical Consultant at any given time on any form of medical advice. “He served the royal family with a sincere heart and was always available each time he was called upon and was of great help to our people during his stay in the Diaspora”. Kabaka recalled. Kabaka Mutebi commended the Late Mayanja for the love he had for the Kingdom of Buganda, the King and above all the respect he had for his cultural norms and values. RONALD MUWENDA MUTEBI II, KABAKA OF BUGANDA. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Throughout the years, Dr Mayanja inspired me through his hard work, dedication and commitment towards his patients. Whenever a doctor didn’t turn up for duty he gladly filled in the slot even if it was at night. He knew all his patients by their names and treated all categories of people equally. He always ensured delivery of high quality of care to his patients through ensuring that all doctors underwent continuous medical education (CME). This was in order to keep abreast, the latest and evidence- based type of treatment for particular illnesses. Unlike other private healthcare facilities which would terminate their employees if they went away for further studies Dr Mayanja would not do the same. I managed to carry out my Masters and several diploma trainings abroad while still working with him. His gift of networking with people with all sorts of walks of life including: high profile ones such as top politicians, cultural leaders, religious leaders, CEOs, etc helped the practice to flourish and stay afloat even through hard times through various interactions. He once cautioned me not to look at the medical practice as a source of income but a volunteer service and networking forum trough which other means of survival would be met. DR JENNIFER NABUKENYA SSENGOOBA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mayanja became a friendly person not only to me but also to many others. And all this helped to anticipate the great man he would be later in life especially that he was in addition in that O-Level section which had the most intelligent classes in the country!!! I personally thank Dr George William Mayanja for the many things he did for his college, for his country and for society wherever he was. And I wish him that well-deserved heavenly rest. DR. GEORGE HERMAN KKOLOKOLO OF PARIS FRANCE -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George was a dear friend and even though he died like we all must, I will forever be the better for having known him. To each one of us his friends, George was a unifying person. The one you called upon to seek genuine counsel. He was patient and a good listener. If there was need for anything to be said such as advice to his friends, George found a nice way to say it. George`s advice was always sincere and well intentioned. When I say this I know I speak for all his friends and am sure I am in excellent company because George was a good man. We remember him as an excellent professional and Paediatrician. His tender fingers and Stethoscope touched and cured thousands of children. What a wonderful bedside manner he had. In his treatment room you felt that you are the only patient he had for the day. We remember him as an entrepreneur. He embraced group medical practice and popularised it in Uganda. We remember George as a formidable mobilizer. What a mobilizer he was for all good causes, friends, associations and his alma mater St. Mary`s College Kisubi. KATIMBO MUGWANYA

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Dr Mayanja was passionate about his medicine. He respected everybody in whatever capacity they were in. He loved God, the family, patients and St. Mary’s College Kisubi. MRS ELIZABETH MAYANJA Dr George Mayanja was a great alumnus of St Mary's College Kisubi. He had great passion for the school and indeed contributed so much to it mentally, physically and financially. He did a lot to galvanize the OBs/OGs into a meditating team about their alma mater to whom they owed enormously for what they are; and repeatedly reminded them that she expected a good turn to propel her to even greater heights for the prosperity and socio-economic development of the direct beneficiaries and the country at large. His bee-hive activity reached its climax during the period of SMACK's centenary celebrations. Being a perfectionist, he made sure there was no stone left unturned and no loop hole in the arrangements. When it came to his relationship with people, he was ebullient and benevolent, always wishing others well. About his nation, he was a patriot because he forewent the green pastures of UK, where he had a good job of a Paediatrician and came back to Uganda, then fraught with insecurity and peril. To minimize this risk he decided to rent a very expensive accommodation for his clinic and residence in the comparatively secure Nile building on Jinja Road for close to 10 years! We wish to invoke the Almighty God to rest him in eternal peace. DR. LAWRENCE KAGGWA -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doctor Mayanja became a friend, parent, grandfather to us and our children...He always gave me the will to move on in very hard times...I am well because of this Doctor...I will miss him and my boys and daughter too..Now we have to adjust and start looking again for a Doctor with his qualities!! STELLA NKINI NDIWALANA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doctor Mayanja’s qualities are the type all Medical Doctors would love to be identified with, but it is not possible. He knew his clients by name, place of work, and for the women, he knew the husbands and the children! His patients loved him as he was spot on with his medical facts. There was an Army General who once tried to advise Dr. Mayanja over what the Doctor was better informed. The Late Doctor responded by telling the General that he was at a Clinic and not an Army Barracks. Up to the time of Dr. Mayanja’s death, the General never knew another Doctor a part from Mayanja! The Late Dr. Mayanja would talk to the lowly rated as well s the high status class in society. He was so religious. He would 1st have a call at Church (Christ the King) before continuing to the Clinic. He was indeed Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi’s man, he loved Buganda and Uganda at large. Those of us who worked with Dr. Mayanja can testify that he was a real co-worker and it is because of his human treatment that we managed to stay with him up to the time of death. DR. ABBAS MUBIRU ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I recall his input into the SMACK Centenary Celebrations which saw him convince me to make the contribution I did not forgetting the number of hours he put into the meetings, I doubt whether there is any Old Boy who happened to put in so much time for the function as he did. While President of the Old Boys Association, Dr. Mayanja spearheaded the renting out of the SMACK Club House at Lubaga and the Association was able to realize money to help with operations, and it is the same funds that was the basis for opening up an office for the Old Boys at the NOOK, which office is vibrant in mobilization of the Old Boys of St. Mary’s College Kisubi. God, rest Dr. George William Mayanja’s soul in eternal peace. WILLIAM KITUUKA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN THE SHADOW OF DR. GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA

DR MAYANJA HAD FRUITFUL LIFE AS SHOWN IN PICTURES

GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA BALAGANA IS HEIR TO DR GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA

George William Mayanja Balagana traveled all the way from Johannesburg where he goes to school in the Higher section to be installed heir to his Late Father Dr. George William Mayanja. Balagana was at St. Mary’s College Kisubi for his O levels up to 2011 before being admitted to St. John’s College, Johannesburg. The only son by Dr. Mayanja says that he has a number of friends at St. Mary’s College Kisubi, these include Mwesigwa Diego Donald who is in S 4, Genwroth Rodney S 5, Turinawe Collin S 4, Kasekende Romeo. Other friends include Michael Kibuka S5 and Aijuka David S 5. Before he was installed heir, one could hardly believe that the youthful boy who had put on casually was actually the one to be put in his Late Father’s shoes. Mayanja Junior is no mean youth as he is officially heir to two no mean gentlemen. It so happens that the Late Dr. George Mayanja was heir to his uncle Prof. Francis Musango; now the youthful Mayanja is also official heir of the Professor in addition to his father.

After the traditional installation ceremony, the Main Celebrant, Bishop Paul Semwogerere of Kasana Luwero Diocese cautioned the heir to take on the responsibilities entrusted to him by his Late father and the clan mates of (Omutima Omuyanja). He is capable of living to the expectation if he remains serious and committed to what is expected of him.

The Katikiiro of Buganda, Engineer John B. Walusimbi told the gathering that the Late Dr. George Mayanja had been his personal friend, school-mate, a former President of St. Mary’s College Kisubi Old Boys’ Association to which he is a member, and that the efforts to see St. Mary’s College Kisubi to higher horizons had earned the Late Doctor a position on the school Board, and by the time of his death, Doctor Mayanja was the Vice Chairman. Talking in his capacity as Katikiiro he told the gathering that the late Doctor had not only been one of Kabaka Mutebi’s personal doctors, but also a friend. He said that Kabaka had offered a whole cow for slaughter at the function.

Among the notables present at the function were: Mr. Louis Kasekende; Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda, Dr. Lawrence Kaggwa (Min. of Health), Engineer Martin Kasekende Chairman Federation of Uganda Employees, Mr. Semanobe (OB SMACK), Brother Edward Bukenya – Head teacher (SMACK), Brother Anthony Kyemwa; the 1st African Headmaster of SMACK, Brother Peter Kazekulya, Brother Agenze, Hon. Hilary Onek (Who was a personal friend of the Late Doctor), The Manager Events (SMACK – OB). Others noted included Mr. Emmanuel Katongole M/D – Quality Chemicals, Mr Henry Kibirige, Matt Kigundu and Michael Jjingo of Centenary Bank and SMACK OB, Doctors from Victoria Medical Centre who included Dr. Abbas Mubiru a friend to Doctor Mayanja since 1972 when they were students in 1st year at Makerere University Medical School and Dr. Nabukenya a Child Specialist at the Clinic. One of Christ the King Choirs was at it during the Mass. Mayanja George William has two sisters; one is a student at Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga and the other is Mrs. Kakooza who stays and works in Kenya. By all standards, I must say the function was well organized and the setting arrangement so good given that the compound looked small given the crowd expected, fortunately, all were swallowed.