The former director of health services Prof. Anthony Kabanza Mbonye is dead, Ug Mirror reports.
Dr Mbonye was announced dead this morning.
“The SH Comptroller Ms. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye with deep sorrow announces the death of her dear husband Prof. Anthony Kabanza Mbonye this morning. He was Prof. at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, MUK & UCU and former Director General Health Services #RIPMbonye,” reads the tweet from Presidential Press Secretary, Linda Nabusayi Wamboka.
It is said that he succumbed to cancer that he has been battling for the past few years.
Prof Mbonye has been a Professor at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University; and Uganda Christian University.
He had a broad background in medicine and public health with expertise in malaria, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases control; healthy systems, policy development and programming.
Previously he was Director General Health Services supervising all community and clinical programs in the Ministry of Health.
Over time, he provided technical leadership and concluded a package of strategic interventions to improve health service delivery in Uganda.
As Director of Health Services, he was a member of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) providing oversight for the implementation of Global Fund Grants to control of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB in Uganda.
As a Commissioner of Health Services and later as Director of Health Services, he coordinated multiple development partners in the control of epidemics and disease outbreaks involving VHFs, typhoid, cholera, malaria, Avian flu, and Rift Valley Fever.
As assistant Commissioner of Health Services and head of the Reproductive Health program, he spearheaded several innovations and strategies that improved access to sexual and reproductive health services with reduced fertility, increased access to contraception and adolescent health services; and reduction in maternal and infant mortality in Uganda.
He hails from Rwenkobwa town in Ibanda district and the town’s rapid development is attributed to him.