You probably have heard him on various talk shows on radio in Rwanda and Uganda, explaining a lot about different diseases and their cure.

‘Doctor’ Muslim Lukwago is a professional herbalist who is based in Gikondo and has managed to build a name as one of best herbalists in Rwanda and Uganda. "The name I have made in this profession has been there for the past couple of decades. It is our family’s tradition to find solutions to various health problems and I’m just living up to family ways” says the soft spoken 27 years old.

As he explained, his grand father is the brain behind all his success having kick started the use of herbs even before Lukwago himself was born. His grand father passed on the torch to Dr. Lukwago’s father and his father did just that.

At 17 years, Lukwago had gained enough knowledge that allowed him to treat patients under the watchful eye of his father. ‘It’s my dad’s constant advice and help that has made me the herbalist I am today’

Many of you must be wondering how Lukwago managed to get the title of a doctor yet he hasn’t been to a medical school but he explains herbalists pass through some herbal training institutes that later approve them as Herbalist Doctors (H/Dr.).

Despite this, Lukwago still has to be very careful wherever he goes because not everyone is conversant with herbalist doctors as they are treated like witch doctors in most parts of the country especially in towns.

Therefore his past ten years have been a journey of challenges "There are times I visit an area to sensitize the people about certain herbs they have in their gardens and bushes, but when they learn that I’m an herbalist doctor, they all walk away.

The ones who trust us are those who take our medication after they’ve failed to get treatment from different hospitals and come to us as the last resort. I’ve cured a number of them, and these are the ones who encourage some of our patients to come to us,” he explains.

In the past few years, there’s been talk of human sacrifices around the great lakes region, and most of the time certain people tend to link herbalist doctors to the barbaric act.

"The herbalist profession is finding it very hard to explain to the public that as herbalists we only use root tubers, leaves, fruits, honey and vegetables to cure our patients. What would a herbalist do with some one’s body?” asks Lukwago.

The other challenge is the lack of enough herbal trees that always requires them to cross into different countries looking for them.

Despite the challenges mentioned, Lukwago has some things to smile about. He has managed to build a following from patients who have failed to recover in hospitals and this he says gives him the confidence that one time, herbalists doctors will be regarded in society just as useful as other doctors.

Lukwago has also managed to sensitize people about good diets that help prevent eye diseases, stomachache, skin diseases, pressure, diabetes, etc by simply eating certain fruits and vegetables.

During his free time, Lukwago enjoys watching the English Premier League and visiting friends.

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