Josephine Nambooze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Josephine Nambooze
Born	1930 (age 94–95) Nsambya, Uganda
Nationality	Ugandan
Citizenship	Uganda
Alma mater	Makerere University (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) University of London (Diploma in Maternal and Child Health) Undisclosed University in USA (Master of Public Health)
Occupation	Physician, Researcher, Academic
Years active	1962 to present
Known for	Medical Practice & Research
Title	Professor of Public Health

Josephine Nambooze (born 1930) is a famous Ugandan doctor, a specialist in public health, and a respected professor. She is known for her important research in medicine. Professor Nambooze is a retired professor of public health at Makerere University School of Public Health.

She made history as the very first woman from East Africa to become a qualified doctor. This happened around 1959, which was a huge achievement for women in the region.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Uganda

Josephine Nambooze was born in 1930 in Nsambya, a part of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Her father, Joseph Lule, was a school teacher, and her mother, Maria Magdalena Lule, was a housewife. Josephine was the oldest of their thirteen children.

School Days and Science

She went to St. Joseph's Primary School in Nsambya. Later, she attended Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga, a well-known girls' school. Josephine was very interested in science subjects. At that time, her school did not have science labs. So, she had to travel to Namilyango College, an all-boys boarding school, to do her science experiments. This shows how determined she was to learn!

Becoming a Doctor

In the mid-1950s, Josephine was accepted into Makerere University School of Medicine. She was the first female student ever to study human medicine at this university. After graduating from Makerere, she continued her studies. She went to universities in the United Kingdom and the United States to learn even more. She returned to Uganda in 1962, ready to start her career.

A Career in Public Health

Teaching and Research

In 1962, Professor Nambooze joined the staff at Makerere University. She became a lecturer, teaching about public health and the health of mothers and children. She was also put in charge of the Kasangati Health Centre. This center was a special place where students from Makerere University School of Public Health could get hands-on experience.

Over the years, she became a senior lecturer, then an associate professor, and finally a full professor in these important fields. Her work helped train many new doctors and health workers.

Working with the World Health Organization

Professor Nambooze also worked for the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is a big international group that works to improve health around the world. She was the WHO representative in Botswana. She also served as a director at the WHO regional office in Brazzaville, Congo. In this role, she helped develop health services for many countries.

Images for kids

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  Professor Josephine Nambooze, a pioneer in medicine.

See also

In Spanish: Josephine Nambooze para niños

• Mulago Hospital
• Nsambya Hospital
• Uganda Ministry of Health