St John Uganda is part of the International Order of St John operating in over 30 countries worldwide with a coordination office in London, United Kingdom. The St. John Ambulance Association and the Brigade (short title “St. John Ambulance”) were the single Foundation of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (referred to as “The Order”) The St. John Ambulance Association was established in Uganda in 1930 and a St. John Ambulance brigade which is made up of uniformed and ranked volunteers a year later, following an outrageous widespread outbreak of epidemics in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. St John Uganda is an illustrious voluntary organization orchestrated by the British medical doctors from Mulago Hospital to compliment the earlier efforts of Sir Albert Cook who had succeeded in establishing Mengo and Mulago Hospitals in 1900 and 1911 respectively.

1n 1934, a pioneer group of African men received First aid training at Mulago Hospital. Earlier on First aid training had not benefited Ugandans due to communication barriers since the  first training in the early years was conducted in English and therefore Ugandans were not actively involved in the affairs of the St. John Uganda. 

In 1935 First aid classes were started at St John by Dr. John P. Mitchell (the then Medical Superintendant of Mulago hospital) and colleagues at Mulago hospital. The first five years of St. John did not register enormous success due language barriers until Dr. John P. Mitchell proposed for translated First aid training manuals for Ugandans in 1935. This was the beginning of active voluntary work for Ugandans since after training; the trained individuals then took on active participation in the organisation.

In 1941, Dr. John P. Mitchell started the pioneer division of St. John Ambulance Brigade at Mulago Nursing School. Up to 1944, St John Ambulance –Uganda had full membership of only 58 people. This limited membership was attributed to inadequate of First aid trainers and language barriers which together halted the progress of First aid training. During that time, all First aid certificates were issued from Great Britain and over 5.5 million certificates had been issued to trained members of the brigade of whom over 2 million of these certificates had been issued to St. John units outside Great Britain.

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