Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Robert Abak has issued a strong warning to Nebbi District residents against seeking cancer treatment from witch doctors and traditional healers, cautioning that the practice continues to cost lives.
Speaking on Sunday morning during the 2026 edition of the Rotary Cancer Run—an event aimed at raising funds and creating community awareness—Mr. Abak revealed that his office frequently receives reports of families taking cancer patients to shrines after misinterpreting symptoms as a curse or witchcraft. He noted that many patients only report to health facilities when the disease has reached an advanced stage, often after spending heavily on consultation fees with traditional healers, rendering treatment far more difficult.
"Cancer is not witchcraft," Mr. Abak said. "It is a medical condition that requires early screening and proper treatment by qualified health workers. I urge our people in Nebbi to stop wasting time and money in shrines."
The RDC's warning coincides with memories of a notable incident in Oweko Parish, Ndhew Sub-county, where a witch doctor allegedly halted a burial and promised to resurrect the deceased after extorting Shs 300,000 from the family.
Joining the call, Nebbi Municipality Mayor Jackline Opar urged women to undergo regular screening for cervical cancer and steer clear of shrines. Ms. Opar emphasized that while other diseases exist, cancer remains a deadly and financially draining scourge requiring urgent attention. She added that fighting cancer is not a one-person role, but one that demands concerted effort from local communities to the national level through continuous stakeholder engagement and sensitization.
Geoffrey Okello Keronega, the president of the Rotary Club of Nebbi, explained that the nationwide run seeks to mobilize funds for the construction of a specialized cancer ward at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya alongside community sensitization efforts. Mr. Okello revealed that while Rotary Uganda targets Shs 15 billion for the project, approximately Shs 5 billion has been raised through donations from well-wishers. He noted that while the government is working to construct cancer infrastructure, the private sector must step up to support facilities that can reduce the burden.
Meanwhile, former Nebbi District Woman Member of Parliament Jackline Aol urged the government to establish a regional cancer treatment center to decongest Mulago National Referral Hospital. Ms. Aol observed that establishing regional units would significantly lower treatment and transport costs, noting that many sufferers die silently in communities due to the high cost of care and upkeep in Kampala. She pointed out that sheer desperation and prohibitive costs are what force families to seek shortcuts through witch doctors.
