MP Kirumira Calls for Stronger Government Action on Cancer

What the report says

Katikamu South MP Hassan Kirumira Lukalidde has urged the Ugandan government to step up its response to cancer by broadening public awareness and making screening available in all health facilities, especially government hospitals. The appeal came as he flagged off runners from the Rotary Club of Wobulenzi in Luweero District, who were taking part in a nationwide cancer awareness run meant to promote education and help raise money for cancer treatment services.

According to Nile Post, Lukalidde said the state has a duty to protect citizens by improving access to early detection and care, and he linked weak public support to avoidable deaths and anxiety among newly diagnosed patients. He argued that many people do not know where to turn after a diagnosis and need clearer pathways to treatment.

The event also included health education led by Rotarian Dr Herbert Lumu, who spoke to runners about cancer signs and risk factors. He highlighted smoking, shisha use and delayed treatment for infections as possible contributors to risk, while also stressing prevention, diet and timely care.

Rotary Club of Wobulenzi president Geoffrey Muhanuzi encouraged people to undergo screening and to seek medical advice from health facilities rather than relying on unprescribed remedies. The runners gathered at Centenary Bank grounds in Wobulenzi, where a health camp offered free cancer screening and other services. The broader context is Uganda’s ongoing effort to improve early cancer detection and treatment access, which health advocates say remains limited in many communities.