Health 31 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
FDC Urges Government to Deliver on Promised Cancer Centres After King Oyo's Passing
Following the death of King Oyo, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has intensified calls for the government to fulfill its decade-old promise of establishing regional cancer treatment centres in Mbale, Mbarara, and Arua. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/fdc-presses-govt-on-promised-cancer-centres-after-king-oyo-s-death-5577830
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party is demanding accountability from the government regarding the unfulfilled pledge to establish regional cancer centres. The party highlighted the ongoing plight of Ugandans who face arduous journeys and limited access to specialized cancer care due to the concentration of services in Kampala.
FDC Deputy Spokesperson Richard Muyombya Kalimagezi stated that many lives are lost not due to the impossibility of treatment, but the lack of accessible systems. He pointed to the ruling NRM government’s 2016-2021 manifesto, which explicitly promised the expansion of cancer treatment facilities to Mbale, Mbarara, and Arua regional referral hospitals.
However, Kalimagezi noted that this commitment remains largely unmet, forcing patients from across eastern, western, and northern Uganda to travel to the capital for essential radiotherapy and other specialized services. This situation, he emphasized, is not only costly and exhausting but often leads to treatment being sought too late.
The FDC stressed that cancer is a significant public health issue in Uganda, with cervical and breast cancers being particularly prevalent. The party questioned the government’s inaction, asserting that a manifesto represents a contract with the people and demanding an explanation for the decade-long delay in making these promised centres functional.
In response, the FDC is advocating for increased budget allocations to equip regional hospitals with cancer screening, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy capabilities, alongside efforts to recruit and retain oncologists outside of Kampala. They also called for a reprioritization of health spending, suggesting resources could be redirected from other public expenditure areas.
This push for improved cancer care comes in the wake of the passing of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Rukidi IV of Tooro Kingdom, who died after battling cancer while receiving treatment abroad. The FDC extended condolences to the Tooro Kingdom, recognizing King Oyo as a unifying cultural leader, while simultaneously pressing the government on its critical health sector commitments.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Uganda recorded approximately 35,968 new cancer cases and 24,629 deaths in 2022. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) estimates that the country sees between 34,000 and 36,000 new cancer cases annually.