The cardiac Clinic was started in 1958 by professor Krishna Somers in a small office in old Mulago Hospital. The aim was to ensure that patients with heart disorders were checked and given supplies of life sustaining medicines without break. At independence in 1962, the National and Grindlays Bank donated £ 8,000 as an “Uhuru” gift which was used to purchase the cardiac catheterization machine. This was installed in the department of medicine (the space currently occupied by the computer laboratory) and named the “cardio-pulmonary laboratory.” The clinic grew steadily such that by 1966, it was a fully fledged cardiology unit complete with a catheterization laboratory and closed heart surgery in its infancy. By 1968 cardiac surgery was well established as a unit within the cardiac clinic with Dr. Lindsy Grigg as its head and performing only closed heart surgery. In the early 70’s the Cardiac Clinic’s surgical unit successfully performed a few open heart surgical procedures under total circulatory arrest with profound hypothermia. The function of the Cardiac Clinic then was described under 3 headings: A. Cardiac service; B. Teaching and training; and C. Research

The clinic continued to progress. By 1972, at least 5 research fellows had undertaken their specialist training at the clinic and more than 30 publications in internationally acclaimed journals had been published.

Following the military coup in 1971, the cardiac clinic services dwindled progressively as the clinicians running it left the country such that by 1978, there was no more specialized cardiology service! It was not until the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) was formed in the early 90s that cardiology services resurrected. Due to lack equipment, space and trained staff (in part) in the department of medicine, comprehensive cardiology services were moved from the department of medicine to the Uganda Heart Institute; but largely because, unlike other subspecialties of internal medicine, cardiologists relate professionally more closely to cardiac surgeons – hence the essence of close proximity. The cardiac clinic under the UHI started in the old buildings in old Mulago (now called Upper Mulago). In 1999, following restructuring of Mulago Hospital, the UHI relocated to New Mulago (now called Lower Mulago), Ward 1C.