“The doctors are very few and overwhelmed with work. If you stepped inside Uganda Cancer Institute today, from the doorway to the corridors, even near the washrooms, there are patients,” Aceng stated. She highlighted that in other countries, one doctor typically attends to only one or two patients a day, contrasting sharply with the high patient volumes seen at the institute. “Anyone would get tired and not do exactly what you would want to do,” she added.
Aceng pointed out that this project is part of a broader initiative to establish three Centers of Excellence for Skills in East Africa, with Uganda leading in oncology while Tanzania and Kenya focus on cardiology and nephrology respectively.
Minister of State for Finance Henry Musasizi explained that the construction timeline for the center had initially been set for 24 months but was extended due to COVID-19 impacts and cash flow challenges faced by contractors. The delay has resulted in increased costs for materials and labor.
Musasizi stressed that the demand for cancer care is rising, exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure at the Uganda Cancer Institute, which has led to congestion and increased referrals abroad. With over 500 patients currently on a waiting list for nuclear medicine, he reiterated that expanding treatment facilities is a government priority.