Ian Clarke (physician)

Ian Clarke
Born	1952 (age 71–72) South Armagh, Northern Ireland
Residence	Makindye, Uganda
Nationality	British and Ugandan
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Citizenship	United Kingdom and Uganda
Alma mater	Queens University Belfast (Bachelor of Obstetrics) (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene) (Master of Science in Public Health)
Occupation	Physician Politician Businessman Philanthropist Entrepreneur
Years active	1986 – present
Known for	Medicine Business Politics
Home town	Armagh
Title	Mayor Makindye Division
Spouse(s)	Roberta Clarke
Children	3

Ian Clarke, MBChB BAO, DTM&H, MSc, is a physician, missionary, philanthropist, entrepreneur and politician in Uganda. Since May 2011, he has been Mayor of Makindye Division, one of the five administrative units of Kampala Capital City Authority.

Background and education

Ian Clarke was born in South Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1952 to Thomas and Jean Clarke. He studied human medicine at Queens University Belfast, graduating in 1976, with the degree combined degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Bachelor of Obstetrics, (MBChB BAO), as is customary in Irish medical schools. Later, in 1987, he obtained the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H), from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He followed up in 1994 with the degree of Master of Science in Public Health (MSc), also from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Moved to Uganda

Clarke read about the AIDS epidemic in Uganda and decided to come see for himself. He was taken to Kiwoko Village, in present day Nakaseke District in the Luweero Triangle. He arrived in 1987, at the tail end of the Ugandan Bush War, which he had been unaware of until he arrived. He subsequently returned with his family under the auspices of the Church Mission Society to work in Kiwoko. Dr Clarke initially treated his patients under a tree before going on to establish Kiwoko Hospital which, as of March 2015, maintains a nurses training school, a laboratory technician training school, a large community health programme, a neonatal ICU and full general hospital facilities.

Clarke later moved to Kampala setting up his first clinic (International Medical Centre) within the Kampala Pentecostal Church Building (Watoto Church) on Buganda Road in Central Kampala. His vision continued to grow and he subsequently opened International Hospital Kampala (IHK) in Old Kampala where the first open heart surgery was carried out. IHK subsequently grew and moved to Namuwongo, another Kampala suburb. The 110 bed facility is the only ISO certified hospital in Uganda and strives to continue bridging the gap in private healthcare provision in Uganda through providing quality, affordable healthcare. The hospital has state-of-the-art facilities including specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and plastic surgery.

Other responsibilities

Clarke also writes a weekly column in The New Vision, Uganda's biggest daily, and has penned a couple of books titled The Man With The Key Has Gone and How Deep Is This Pothole. He has further projects in Juba, South Sudan and in Zanzibar, Tanzania where his family built, owns and operates a boutique hotel. His wife, Roberta Clarke, lives with him in Kampala. Their oldest son Sean, overseas the 12 or so clinics that his father owns in Uganda. Their daughter, Lauren, is a nurse and lives in Ireland. Their youngest son, Michael, runs the family hotel in Zanzibar.

Political career

In November 2010, Ian Clarke entered Ugandan politics by securing nomination, as an Independent candidate, to contest for the Chairmanship of Makindye Division, one of the five divisions of Kampala Capital City Authority, the governing body of Uganda's capital city of Kampala. He was motivated to run due to the bad roads and poor living conditions within his community. His three pillars in the election were: "good roads, good health and economic development". He enjoyed a landmark victory and was sworn into office as Mayor of Makindye Division in May 2011 to serve for a five year term.

Affiliated businesses

Ian Clarke is chairman and chief executive officer of the International Medical Group (IMG), Uganda's leading healthcare provider. Group companies include, but are not limited to the businesses listed below. These inter-related companies utilize IMG's own network of facilities, including a fully equipped hospital, countrywide clinics, a diagnostic centre and a health membership organisation. In January 2014, unofficial estimates put the value of Dr. Clarke's business empire at approximately US$15 million.

• International Hospital Kampala (IHK)
• International Medical Centres (IMC)
• International Medical Foundation (IMF)
• International Diagnostic Centre (IDC)
• IAA Healthcare (IAAH)
• IMG Pharmaceuticals (IMGP)
• International Health Sciences University (IHSU)
• IMG Construction Company (IMGCC)

See also

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