While appearing on a reality television show known as “My Story,” hosted by Karitas Karisimbi, on Monday, October 14, 2024, Dr. John Ekure, the Executive Director and Chief Surgeon at Kumi Orthopedic Centre in Kumi district, confessed how he quit opposition and resorted to saving lives with support from the government.
The orthopedic surgeon in 2001 overwhelmingly supported and openly funded the then Reform Agenda’s presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye; all his moves were strictly against the ruling government.
As they say, time is the biggest healer. Dr. Ekure on Monday revealed how he later quit supporting the opposition and reconciled with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM party, whom he had massively fought in 2001.
“The President is a good man. He forgave me, and we reconciled. We are now friends. I am not interested in any opposition politics anymore but rather focused on my career and country,” Dr. Ekure said.
According to Dr. Ekure, he was shocked when President Museveni agreed to be the chief guest at the grand opening of his hospital, well knowing that he (Ekure) had fought him terribly.
On April 4, 2012, the President promised to tarmac the road that goes to his facility and also extend the power and water supply, pledges that have been successfully delivered. He then described the president as a man of his word and a promise keeper.
“President Museveni is a man of his word; when he came to commission the hospital, he promised that the road to the Centre would be worked on together with having electricity extended to the facility. And indeed, his promise came true, and I am glad that it has been delivered as he pledged,” Ekure said.
He said that he would direct the Minister for Works and Transport to coordinate with the contractors building the Tororo-Soroti road to include a section leading to the orthopedic Centre so that the tarmac can protect the equipment in the hospital from dust.
He also pledged to bring electricity to the center and donated Shs40 million in cash to buy an electric bone drill,” Dr. Ekure said.
Dr. Ekure is a household name in the field of orthopedic surgery. He worked in the Kumi and Soroti hospitals for a long time.
Currently, the hospital receives patients from all over the country, especially the Eastern region of Uganda, and from other countries in East Africa (South Sudan, Tanzania, and Kenya).