As pediatric surgeons and advocates for African pediatric surgery, we deeply mourn the untimely death of Dr. Martin Situma.

Martin earned his medical degree at Makerere University Medical School in 2001, then completed General Surgery training at Makerere University and Mulago National Referral Hospital, where he received his M.Med.Gen. Surgery in 2006. In 2009 he started a pediatric surgical fellowship at Mulago, spending three years in training at the Red Cross Hospital in Capetown, South Africa, and at BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital, Kenya. In 2014 he successfully passed the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Examination of the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA), thus becoming a board-certified pediatric surgeon.

Following graduation, Dr. Situma joined the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, establishing its first Paediatric Surgery Department serving the entire Western Region of Uganda. Under his visionary and tireless leadership, the BethanyKids@MRRH Paediatric Surgical Unit provided excellent and compassionate care to thousands of children, reached out surgically to many surgically deprived areas, and attracted visiting surgeons from around the world. In conjunction with the Mulago National Referral Hospital, Dr. Situma started training future pediatric surgeons, thus contributing to the building of pediatric surgical capacity in Uganda. He also initiated several research projects, including the landmark study achieving improved outcomes for gastroschisis through local quality improvement and team building efforts.

Professionally, Martin was a superb surgeon, a compassionate healer, a consummate teacher, and a servant leader. But much more, he was a man of great faith, a devoted husband and father, and a precious friend to many of us. He leaves behind a loving family of 6 children.

Martin’s untimely passing is a tremendous loss to all – family, friends, colleagues, and the entire pediatric surgical community. His legacy will however live on, continuing to be a model for upcoming generations of surgeons committed to saving and improving the lives of African children through surgical care..

Dr. Martin’s Biography

Dr. Martin Situuma was borne to Engineer Robert Mungali and Late Sarah Mungali on July 23rd/1976.

He went to Kampala Parents School,Kings College Buddo for the formative Education. He joined Makerere University Medical School in 1996-2001 for MBchB then did surgical Residency for M.Med Gen.Surgery from 2003-2006.

He joined Paediatric Surgery-Fellowship in Mulago National Referral Hospital in 2009. He went for further training at Red Cross War Memorial Hospital Cape Town in 2010-2013, After which he had a stint at Kigabe Paediatric hospital in Kenya.

He did his Paediatric Surgery Fellowship Exam under the College of Surgeon East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) in December 2014 in Harare, Zimbabwe becoming a Board Certified Paediatric Surgeon.

He Returned to Uganda and joined Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and Mbarara University of Science and Technology establishing the first Paediatric Surgery Department in the Hospital which has served the entire Western Region and beyond and trained many students including undergraduates, Post graduates and Paediatric surgery Fellows.

He got married to Dr. Elizabeth Situma in 2009 and together they have 6 children.