By Michael Ainomugisha
For one week in late August, Donella Orange Nursery and Primary School in Bombo town, central Uganda, was a school in building, but a medical facility in practice. The second term school holidays in Uganda was a perfect time for the facility to host the 15th Annual Bombo Medical mission in the week ending August 31.
A student, Hannah Nakiwala Assumpta, performs a procedure on a patient at the medical camp.
Organized by the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Bombo Ministries under the theme “Healing in partnership with Christ,” this year’s medical outreach marks the second time the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Dentistry students were participating. UCU first participated last year.
The first camp, held in 2008, was a simple setting, to treat simple ailments, largely malaria, cough and the like. However, years down the road, even surgeries are carried out at the outreach, giving the much-needed opportunity for students like those from the UCU School of Dentistry to relate textbook knowledge with real world medical practice. At this year’s outreach, services included paediatrics, gynecology, dental treatment, eye care and orthopedics, giving medical relief to more than 4,300 patients.
To Hannah Assumptah Nakiwala, a second-year student of Bachelor of Dental Surgery, the Bombo mission was more than just a field trip. It was the first time she applied her classroom knowledge in a real clinical setting.
“I’ve always prayed each morning that I learn something new, and, here, I have,” she said. “In class we were told that anatomy of the head and the neck would be important in our work, but here, I actually feel the weight of how important it is. Everything we studied has come alive.”
Nakiwala spent the days assisting senior students, learning how to use instruments, and carrying out simpler procedures, such as applying fluoride varnish. What struck her most was how her seniors readily mentored her.
“The moment you say, ‘I don’t know,’ they immediately teach you,” she explained. “Sometimes, their explanations didn’t fully make sense, but I know they will, later, once I have learned more in class.”
One afternoon, Nakiwala witnessed a rare case of cemental osteo-fibroma, a tumor affecting the jaw.
“Hearing the doctor explain its pathophysiology, then seeing it on-site, was enlightening,” she said. “It showed me dentistry isn’t just about pain relief; it’s about understanding deeper disease treatment processes.”
While Nakiwala brought the curiosity of a beginner, Pearl Akankwasa, a fifth-year student, carried the seasoned resolve of someone preparing to step into practice. This was her second time at Bombo, and she spoke with clarity about both the needs she encountered and the gaps in Uganda’s oral health system.
“Dentistry is not just about pulling teeth,” she explained. “Here in Bombo, we have seen patients with tumors, malalignments, even psychogenic pain. We’ve seen elderly people who lost their teeth young because extractions were the only solution offered. Now they need dentures.”
The team attended to a total of 481 patients that sought dental-related interventions.
Akankwasa noted that the most common cases were advanced dental caries that had reached the pulp; the stage where pain becomes unbearable and extraction seems the inevitable solution.
“If we had seen these patients earlier, many could have been saved with root canals or restorations,” she added.
The sheer number of patients reinforced the urgency.
Fifth-year student Pearl Akankwasa takes a break after attending to patients in Bombo, Luwero.
“On one day alone, we handled close to 100 people,” she recalled.
But Akankwasa also acknowledged the limitations. A mobile outreach cannot carry dental chairs or all the specialized equipment needed for complex procedures.
To Duane Mutabaruka, a fifth-year student, the Bombo mission was a test of skill and teamwork.
“Last year, we didn’t even have syringes for anesthesia; this time round, we have proper equipment, aprons for patients, and more sterilization tools. The difference is big,” he said.
Mutabaruka credited the smooth operations to a strong workflow.
“From sterilization to patient registration, everyone knows their role,” he said. “Even breaks are scheduled in shifts. That’s why we can see close to 90 patients seeking dental services in a day.”
But beyond the numbers, Mutabaruka emphasized the human side of dentistry and the lessons learned.
“One thing I’ve learned is to have empathy, not sympathy,” he said. “When a patient cries, you may be tempted to stop. But with empathy, you understand their pain and do what is best for them.”
Final-year dental student Duane Mutabaruka at the Bombo outreach
Mutabaruka acknowledges that while in the field the contrast between urban and rural patients was striking.
“In Kampala, people come for whitening or cleaning of teeth,” he said. “Here, patients come because their teeth are not working. They care about function, not aesthetics. It has deepened my appreciation of dentistry as a calling to restore life, not just smiles.”
Dr. Kasangaki Arabat, who was the leader of the UCU delegation, said the outreach was as much about shaping dentists as it was about serving patients.
“We came with two objectives: to expose the students to the variety of diseases they rarely see in the classrooms and to nurture a giving heart, while making them understand that many people cannot afford their services,” he said.
He also pointed out that outreaches challenge the common misconception that dentists are only trained to remove teeth, adding that the outreach was part of Christian mission.
“The church ministers to the soul,” he said. “We minister through healthcare. In that way, we give what God has placed in our hands.”
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
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