At the beginning of his stay in Uganda at Mengo Hospital, Dr. Ken introduced mentorship learning/practice, first with dental assistants and officers and later with the pioneer dental students of Makerere University in the early 80s. Many dental professionals and other cadres testify to having acquired practice skills from him that they only read about while in school. He has seen dental practice develop from basic care to advanced services providing better and more lasting patient outcomes.
Under Dr. Ken Chapman’s leadership, Mengo Hospital’s dental clinic grew from a small setup in 1980 into a fully equipped department. With support from Friends of Mengo and Rotary International, a modern clinic was built in 2005, expanding services and staff to 40 members. The clinic now plays a key role in training future Ugandan dentists, ensuring lasting impact in dental healthcare.
In honor of Dr. Ken’s legacy, we aim to continue his mission of compassionate care and extend dental education. Mengo Hospital has started a fundraising drive as a tribute to his life’s work, with proceeds supporting the construction of a new state-of-the-art dental training and clinical complex at Mengo Hospital, ensuring that his legacy endures and benefits generations to come.
