Uganda’s Cancer Crisis: 278 patients seek care daily

What the report says

The Observer reports that Uganda’s cancer services are facing rising demand, with an average of 278 people seeking care each day at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala. The institute said it registered 8,764 new cancer patients in the past year, up 10% from 2024, while total patient visits climbed to 67,000. The article says some cancers showed sharper increases, including breast, prostate, childhood bone tumours and childhood lymphomas, adding strain to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.

A key challenge remains supplies. UCI said it received only 59% of the blood products it needed during the period reviewed, a shortfall that can complicate treatment for patients who rely on transfusions and related support. The institute also carried out more than two million laboratory tests, reflecting the pressure on diagnostics as caseloads grow. The report places this within a broader health-system challenge rather than a single facility problem.

At the same time, the article notes that the government and UCI are expanding specialist cancer care. The institute has completed two bone marrow transplants and is preparing to introduce a PET scan, with longer-term plans for a cyclotron and proton therapy. These technologies are intended to reduce the need for Ugandans to seek advanced care abroad. The ministry of health says reforms will need to be matched by trained staff, financing and stronger referral systems.

The Observer also highlights efforts to decentralize care through regional cancer centres, particularly in western and northern Uganda. Those centres are expected to ease travel burdens for patients outside Kampala, though the article says they will still depend on specialists, equipment and steady budgets to work effectively.