Parliament Approves Shs148.2 Billion Loan to Build Mbarara Cancer Centre

The Parliament of Uganda has approved a government request to secure a loan of up to €31.98 million from the Republic of France. The funds will finance the construction and equipment of a 138-bed cancer centre in the Mbarara district, aimed at decentralizing specialized oncology care outside the capital.

The Uganda Cancer Institute’s Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre will occupy 8.5 acres at the Kihumuro campus of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. According to financial officials, the French loan covers roughly 95 percent of the total €33.58 million project cost, with the Ugandan government contributing the remaining €1.6 million.

Presenting the justification, Hon. Henry Musasizi noted that Uganda records approximately 35,968 new cancer cases and 24,629 related deaths annually. Lawmakers emphasized that decentralized services will help detect cancer earlier, lower travel burdens for patients, and ease congestion at the main Mulago facility.

The facility’s initial phase will focus on chemotherapy, surgical oncology, diagnostics, imaging, and intensive care. However, the Parliamentary Committee on National Economy raised concerns that omitting radiotherapy from the first phase might limit immediate clinical impact, as nearly 60 percent of patients require radiation therapy. Minister of State for Primary Health Care Dr. Charles Ayume clarified that budget constraints necessitated starting with foundational services.

Read more details on the Parliament of Uganda.