Govt seeks sh167b to establish regional cancer centres in Mbale, Arua cities

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The government has asked Parliament to approve loans worth $47m (sh167.5b) to expand cancer care services beyond Kampala by constructing and equipping regional oncology centres in Mbale and Arua cities.

Finance state minister Henry Musasizi, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, presented the loan request, which includes up to $10.95m (sh38.6b) from UniCredit Bank Austria to build and equip the Mbale Oncology Centre, and $36.5m (sh128.9b) from the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) for the Arua Oncology Centre and radiotherapy equipment for Mbale.

The financing package will include counterpart funding from government as well as support from the Austrian government for diagnostic facilities, medical equipment training, and project design activities. Uganda will provide technical support, administrative oversight, and tax coverage for the projects.

Rising cancer burden

Uganda is facing a growing cancer challenge, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for 40% of the country’s disease burden, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cancer alone causes about 5% of all deaths in Uganda, with 35,968 new cases and 24,629 cancer-related deaths recorded annually.

Musasizi said the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Mulago, the country’s main referral centre, is overwhelmed by rising case numbers and centralised services in Kampala. Patients from remote regions face long journeys, high costs, and long waiting times, leading to late-stage diagnoses and poor treatment outcomes.

“Establishing regional oncology centres is essential to decentralise cancer care, improve early detection, and ensure equitable access to treatment,” Musasizi told MPs. “This will ease congestion at UCI, reduce financial burdens on patients, and improve survival rates.”

Building on progress

The new centres follow the 2023 completion of the Gulu Oncology and Diagnostic Centre. Mbale and Arua are the next phase, with additional plans for a facility in Mbarara. The project aims to strengthen specialised cancer care, expand early screening, and reduce the number of patients seeking treatment abroad due to a lack of advanced facilities.

The Uganda Cancer Institute will implement the project over 48 months under the supervision of a multi-sectoral committee chaired by the Ministry of Health. The Institute’s board and project steering committee will oversee construction, procurement, and training activities.

Debt concerns

As of June 2024, Uganda’s public debt stood at $25.55b, projected to rise to $31.5b (sh116 trillion) in the 2024/25 financial year. Despite this increase, government maintains that the debt remains within sustainable limits, representing 51.26% of GDP.

Musasizi said that investment in regional cancer centres is a crucial step in improving health outcomes, safeguarding economic productivity, and easing the growing burden of cancer on Ugandan families.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among referred the request to Parliament’s committee on the national economy for scrutiny, with the committee expected to provide a report to the House before Parliament’s term ends soon.