The sudden passing of Dr John Spire Kiggundu left family, friends, and colleagues grappling with shock and unanswered questions, as mourners gathered on Monday at St Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Lweza, along Entebbe Road, to bid their final farewell. The respected medical practitioner and founder of Henrob Hospital in Zana died unexpectedly on Saturday, sparking online speculation and a wave of grief among those he had touched through his medical work.
As the requiem Mass approached, the mood inside the church was heavy with sorrow and disbelief. People who knew Dr Kiggundu as an obstetrician, gynecologist, and surgeon described him as humble, approachable, and committed to serving the vulnerable. “He had no airs and always cared deeply for others,” said one mourner.
The first official statement came from the family, delivered by Dr Julius Luyimbazi, also a medical doctor and the eldest brother. He recounted Dr Kiggundu’s final hours, revealing that he had been battling high blood pressure. On Friday, he spent the entire day performing surgeries, during which his phones were switched off. After leaving work around 5pm, he never turned them back on. When he failed to return home, concern grew within the family.
Surveillance from the hotel revealed that he drove into the compound, entered the reception area, and requested to rest, without even registering. He was assigned a room close to the front desk and entered it at 5:38pm. Sadly, that would be the last time he was seen alive.
A post-mortem was later conducted at Mulago Hospital. Dr Moses Byaruhanga, a police pathologist, concluded that Dr Kiggundu died of acute cardiomyopathy—a condition involving weakened heart muscles and narrowed coronary vessels. The report confirmed there were no external injuries, no signs of foul play, and an empty stomach, indicating a natural cause of death. Dr Luyimbazi urged the media and public to dismiss the rumours and speculations that had circulated.
Born on September 16, 1977, to Joseph and Elizabeth Mutawunga (both deceased), Dr Kiggundu pursued his early education at Blessed Sacrament Kimanya Primary School and later St Henry’s College Kitovu for O-Level, followed by A-Level at Masaka Secondary School. He initially earned a diploma in orthopedics before enrolling at Makerere University for a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). He later specialized with a master’s degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology and another in Laparoscopic Surgery from India. At the time of his death, he had recently completed a Master’s in Fertility and Embryology.
