Anna Turumanya Kalumuna is the dynamic Director of the Kyabirwa Surgical Centre (KSC) in Jinja, Uganda, the nation’s first rural freestanding ambulatory surgical centre (ASC), operated under Global Surgical Initiatives. Since 2019, Anna has steered KSC from inception to becoming the leading low-cost surgical hub in Eastern Uganda, with clinical innovation, systems-building, and community-first care at its core .
Career & Leadership in a Paragraph
Anna joined KSC in 2019 as Director, overseeing the final construction phase, procurement, team building, and institutional setup. In her current role as Executive Director, she ensures seamless digital collaboration with Mount Sinai surgical teams, integrates tele-mentored surgical care, and leads stakeholder partnerships that bridge KSC with Uganda’s public health system—extending access to specialist surgery in deeply underserved rural communities
Transformative Surgical Impact
Under Anna’s leadership, KSC has treated over 28,750 patients, completed 7,755 surgeries patients (57.8% female) between September 2019 and July 2025, averaging at 1400 cases annually—including general surgery, laparoscopy, endoscopy, gynecology, colorectal and the most recently launched microwave ablation procedures. The fully day care Centre has reported less than 2% postoperative hospital admissions and zero ‘death in theatre’ mortalities, and delivered an estimated 2,193 DALYs averted—demonstrating the power of safe, cost‑effective ambulatory care in rural Uganda’s public health landscape.
Training, Collaboration & System Strengthening
Through her leadership, KSC has conducted hands-on surgical training alongside global experts like Dr. Jerome Waye, training both KSC and public sector doctors in endoscopic surgery. In late 2024, she spearheaded KSC’s inaugural GLAP Training & FLS Testing—the first laparoscopic simulation-based certification in East Africa. Sixteen participants underwent rigorous testing, elevating surgical education across the region and positioning KSC as a surgical skills hub. The Center is scheduled to run its second GLAP course in August 2025 with 23 surgeons already enrolled.
Health Systems & Community Integration
Anna has actively embedded KSC within Uganda’s decentralized health system by working with district hospitals, health workers, and community health teams to enhance surgical referrals. She led continuous medical education (CME) programs and awareness campaigns to ensure early detection, referral, and uptake of services from local health centers to KSC. Her work extends equity and safety deeply into the public healthcare continuum.
Why Anna Moves Nations
Surgical Access Innovation: Established Uganda’s first rural ambulatory surgical facility
Healthcare Training & Education: Pioneered regional simulation training and endoscopic learning models
Health Systems Integration: Strengthened surgical referral and ecosystem collaboration across public and private sectors
Operational Excellence: Delivered thousands of surgeries with zero theatre mortalities.
Anna Turumanya Kalumuna, a Doctoral Student in Strategic Leadership at Southeastern University,USA, embodies Postdator’s #WomenWhoMoveNations ethos a visionary leader who is revolutionizing surgical care in rural Uganda through innovation, collaboration, and surgical excellence. Her work is making surgery a safe, accessible reality for thousands across East Africa.
