Wednesday, July 31, 2024
It is so sad to learn the demise of my good friend Dr. Robert Macdonald, two years after his burial!! I got to know him when I was a Geology student at the Department of Geology, Makerere University. As students, we cherished him so much, having started this Department in 1968. When I joined the Department of Geological Surveys and Mines in 2002, I read a lot of his geological mapping reports of his works in Northeast and Northwest of Uganda. In 1967, he compiled the first Geology map of Uganda while working at the Geological Survey Department that was used until 2012 when a new geology map was published. He started the Geological Society of Uganda (GSU) and when he came back to Uganda in 2010, he edited its logo!
In 2010, I had a golden chance to meet him and made several geo-traverses across Uganda while gathering geoinformation in preparation to write the book about the geology of Uganda. During the same visit, he too gave a public lecture at Makerere University, Kampala on "The rise of Geoscience in Uganda" of which I personally coordinated.
I had an opportunity to meet and interact with family that time as they proceeded to the beautiful Fort portal City for their holidays. One of his daughters, Anna we are of same age!
I learnt a lot from him especially on the geology of Uganda and I will never forget his kindness, strong memory, sense of humour and above all his professionalism.
Dr. Macdonald, Uganda will ever remember you!!
Rest in Peace Bob; till we meet!!
James Francis Natukunda
Principal Geologist, Geological Survey Department
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda
