Ian Clarke

Ian Clarke (born 1952) is a physician, missionary, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and politician in Uganda.

Early life and education Clarke was born in South Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1952 to Thomas and Jean Clarke. He studied human medicine at Queen's University Belfast, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and a Bachelor of Obstetrics, as is customary in Irish medical schools. In 1987, he obtained a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). He followed up in 1994 with a Master of Science in Public Health, also from LSTM.

Moving 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. Clarke initially treated his patients under a tree before going on to establish Kiwoko Hospital which, as of March 2015, maintained 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. He subsequently opened International Hospital Kampala (IHK) in Old Kampala where Uganda's 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. The hospital has facilities including specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and plastic surgery. He enjoyed a landmark victory and was sworn into office as mayor in May 2011 to serve for a five-year term.

Affiliated businesses Clarke is the Chairman of Clarke Group Companies Clarke Group is the promoter company of Clarke family-related businesses. These include Clarke International University (CIU) [ww.ciu.ac.ug], Clarke Junior School (CJS) , Clarke Farm and Coffee Estate , the Coffee Lodge , Landscape Design, IAA Health Care South Sudan, IMC South Sudan, and Seasons Lodge Zanzibar . In January 2014, unofficial estimates put the value of Clarke's businesses at US$15 million.