The Mbarara University of Science and Technology’s Faculty of Medicine celebrated a historic first with the Inaugural Professorial Lecture (IPL) honouring Professor David Kitya, a renowned neurosurgeon.
This ceremony acknowledged Professor Kitya’s remarkable career achievements.
A Look Back at a Distinguished Career
The event began with a presentation by Prof. Jerome Kabakyenga, a former Dean who has witnessed Prof. Kitya’s rise through academia. Prof. Kabakyenga recounted Prof. Kitya’s impressive journey, emphasizing his dedication and contributions to surgery in the southwestern region.
Dr. Jonans Tusiimire, the current Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, further enriched the occasion with a biographical sketch of Prof. Kitya. This provided the audience with a deeper understanding of the esteemed professor’s life and accomplishments.
Professor David Kitya: A Life in Neurosurgery
Prof. Kitya, born in 1959, comes from a farming background. His educational journey included Nakayisijja Primary School, Makerere College School, and Caltec Academy Makerere. He obtained his MBChB and Mmed in General Surgery at Makerere University in Kampala.
Prof. Kitya’s impressive qualifications include fellowships in Neurosurgery from the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) program at Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya, Groote Schuur Hospital at the University of Cape Town, and Ege University Department of Neurosurgery in Izmir, Turkey. He has also participated in numerous courses relevant to surgery.
Prof. Kitya’s extensive experience spans over three decades, primarily with Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. He also has experience at Mulago Hospital, Kenyan hospitals including Kenyatta National and Tenwek Mission Hospital, and Ege University Hospital’s Spine Section.
Professor Kitya is a prolific researcher, having contributed to over 30 publications with more than 800 citations.
Leadership and Service
Prof. Kitya’s leadership roles include serving as Acting Head of the Department from 2000 to 2021, playing a pioneering role in establishing neurosurgery programs at MUST and in the region and leading the region’s neurosurgery efforts since 2012. He is also the current Chair of the Neurosurgical Society of Uganda and played a key role in starting the COSECSA Neurosurgery program. An Mmed Surgery program is also underway.
Inaugural Professorial Lecture
Prof. Kitya was invited to the podium with a standing ovation. He delivered a captivating lecture on his journey in neurosurgery, covering the history of the field in Uganda, its challenges, collaborations, Development of Neurosurgery in Uganda, Some of the Neurosurgical Conditions We Treat, the Current State Of Neurosurgery In Uganda, Landmark research and publications and the Future Of Neurosurgery in Uganda. For more details please click the link: https://www.must.ac.ug/downloads/Presentations/Neurosurgery%20in%20uganda_KITYA.pptx
The ceremony reached its peak when the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Associate Prof. Joseph Ngonzi, officially conferred the professorship on Prof. Kitya. He read the official letter of appointment of David Kitya as awarded by the University’s Human Resource Director, Mr. Prunari Behangana.
This significant event was followed by the robing ceremony, where Prof. Kitya donned the Professorial gown, a symbol of his esteemed position.
Acceptance and Appreciation
Prof. Kitya expressed his sincere gratitude for the recognition and his unwavering commitment to serving the University and the field of neurosurgery with even greater dedication. The university choir further heightened the celebratory atmosphere with inspiring renditions of Ugandan, East African, and MUST anthems.
Recognition and Celebration
Prof. Kitya and Dean Ngonzi were then escorted into the hall while the choir performed. Following this, Mr. Denis Lukaya, an administrator from the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (FAST), was requested by the Dean FoM to offer a simplified interpretation of the lecture for the audience as a social Scientist in attendance.
The Faculty acknowledged Prof. Kitya’s achievements with a commemorative souvenir. Additionally, Professor Kabakyenga, the former Dean, Dr. Johnes Obungoloch (Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology)Associate Prof. Julius Lejju (Chair of the Deans Committee), Associate Prof. Charles Tushaboomwe-Kazooba (Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration), and were recognized for their valuable contributions.
The celebratory event concluded with group photos, allowing everyone to commemorate this momentous occasion.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology is proud to welcome Prof. Kitya to its esteemed professorship. His appointment is a well-deserved recognition of his exceptional skills and unwavering dedication to the field of neurosurgery. The university looks forward to his continued contributions in advancing knowledge, training future generations of neurosurgeons, and making a lasting impact on the field
