Published on 15/11/2025
Government has reaffirmed its plan to establish Regional Cancer Institutes across the country as Uganda continues to grapple with rising cancer cases that have stretched the national health system.
The announcement was made by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, during a plenary sitting on 30 October 2025 in response to urgent concerns raised by Bukonjo West County MP, Atkins Katushabe.
Katushabe told Parliament that Kasese District is facing what he described as a silent health emergency, with a surge in cancer-related deaths and a worrying pattern of maternal mortality. He said that for the past six months, the district has witnessed alarming numbers of women dying during childbirth, while children are failing to survive delivery. Despite previously raising the issue before the House, he lamented that the government has not sent any ministers to assess the crisis on the ground.
The legislator recounted his recent visit to the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago, where he observed that nearly every floor of the five-story facility had patients from Kasese. He attributed the high incidence of cancer in the district to environmental contamination from copper deposits left behind by mining activities, citing research by Makerere University’s Prof. Hannington Oryem, who found that runoff from copper-rich soils may be washing into drinking water sources.
In his response, Minister Baryomunsi acknowledged that cancer remains a major public health challenge in Uganda, as is the case in many developing countries where incidence rates continue to rise. However, he disputed Katushabe’s assertion that Kasese is the most affected region, noting that recent studies by Makerere University do not place the district among the highest in cancer prevalence or incidence. He said the central region and parts of northern Uganda continue to register larger numbers of cases.
The minister admitted that the Uganda Cancer Institute is overwhelmed, with most patients from across the country still relying on the national referral despite the growing need for more accessible treatment. He revealed that the government is already constructing Regional Cancer Institutes in Gulu, Mbale, Mbarara and Jinja to decentralize care and reduce pressure on the national facility. He added that resources have been committed to improving services at Mulago, including the training of more oncologists and cancer specialists who will later be deployed to regional centres.
Obongi County MP, Dr. George Bhoka Didi, supported the minister’s clarification, pointing to data from the 2017 Uganda Cancer Institute report and a 2020 study led by Dr. Jackson Orem, which show that districts such as Kampala, Kabale, Iganga and Gulu have historically recorded the highest cancer rates. The combined registry data from those years placed the national cancer burden at 25,576 cases, with women accounting for a slightly higher proportion than men. Cervical and breast cancers were the most common among women, while prostate and esophageal cancers dominated among men.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa described the matter as urgent and directed Katushabe to submit a detailed petition to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health. He also instructed the Ministry of Health to prepare a comprehensive statement to Parliament addressing the situation in Kasese and outlining the status of the planned regional cancer facilities.
