Parliament Approves Shs148.2 Billion Loan for New Mbarara Cancer Centre

The Parliament of Uganda has officially approved a government request to secure a loan of up to €31.98 million from the Republic of France. The funds will be directed toward constructing and equipping a modern 138-bed cancer facility in the Mbarara district to decentralize specialized healthcare services.

Presented by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, the initiative addresses alarming health statistics. Current data indicates approximately 35,968 new cancer cases and 24,629 cancer-related deaths occur annually in Uganda. With most specialist services concentrated in Kampala, patients outside the capital face severe logistical and financial hurdles to receive treatment.

The Uganda Cancer Institute’s Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre will be established on an 8.5-acre plot at the Kihumuro campus of Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The French loan will cover roughly 95 percent of the total €33.58 million project cost, with the Ugandan government contributing a matching share of €1.6 million.

While reviewing the proposal, the Committee on National Economy endorsed the project for its potential to improve early detection and ease severe congestion at Mulago’s Uganda Cancer Institute. Committee Chairperson Hon. Jane Avur Pacuto noted that vulnerable populations, particularly children with treatable cancers, face high mortality risks due to delayed diagnoses and limited access to holistic care.

The first phase of the development will focus on essential diagnostic services, chemotherapy, and surgical oncology. Facilities will include three operating theatres, high-dependency care units, and comprehensive imaging departments equipped for CT scans, MRIs, and mammography. Additionally, the project funds two ambulances and specialized medical training through France’s Gustave Roussy Institute.

However, lawmakers raised concerns regarding the omission of radiotherapy from the initial phase, noting that roughly 60 percent of cancer patients require radiation therapy. Addressing Parliament, Minister of State for Primary Health Care Dr. Charles Ayume explained that financial constraints necessitated a phased approach, starting with fundamental oncology services before expanding.

Legislators also urged the government to address critical funding gaps for staffing and medicines, highlighting existing shortages at regional health facilities. Parliament requested regular progress reports to ensure accountability and successful project delivery.

For more details, read the original report on Parliament of Uganda.