Cabinet approves Shs 139bn French loan for Mbarara cancer centre

What the report says

Cabinet has approved a plan to borrow up to €31.98 million, or about Shs 139 billion, from the French government to finance construction and equipment for a regional oncology centre in Mbarara. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, on Monday, August 24, 2026, according to The Observer.

The proposed Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre is intended to expand access to specialised cancer services in western Uganda and reduce the burden on the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala. The government said the facility would help patients avoid long trips to the capital and could also limit the need for some Ugandans to seek treatment outside the country. Cabinet, through ICT and National Guidance minister Justine Kasule Lumumba, said the French financing supports efforts to decentralise cancer care.

The article says Uganda records about 36,000 new cancer cases each year, while only 8,764 patients accessed the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago in 2025. It also notes government concerns that many patients arrive for treatment when the disease is already advanced. Beyond treatment, the centre is expected to support diagnosis, referrals, prevention, public awareness and early detection.

The report adds that the project will still depend on wider health-system support, including trained specialists, equipment, medicines and referral links. In a broader Cabinet session, the government also discussed preparations for a Non-Aligned Movement ministerial meeting, a fertiliser programme and plans for the commemoration of Older Persons Day.