Parliament approves Shs148.2bn loan for Mbarara cancer centre

Parliament has approved a government request to borrow €31.98 million (about Shs148.2 billion) from the Republic of France to construct and equip a 138-bed regional cancer treatment centre in Mbarara District.

The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre will be established on 8.5 acres at the Kihumuro campus of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).

The loan will finance approximately 95 per cent of the €33.58 million project, with the government expected to contribute the remaining €1.6 million.

Presenting the loan request to Parliament, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, said Uganda records approximately 35,968 new cancer cases and 24,629 cancer-related deaths annually.

He said the shortage of specialised cancer treatment facilities outside Kampala had forced many patients to travel long distances to access essential services, increasing the financial burden on families and limiting timely treatment.

In a report presented to Parliament on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the Committee on National Economy backed the loan, saying the facility would improve early cancer detection, reduce patients’ travel costs and ease congestion at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago.

Committee chairperson Hon. Jane Avur Pacuto said the high cancer mortality rate was largely attributed to limited access to early detection programmes and comprehensive treatment services.

“Cancer patients in Uganda are at higher risk of premature deaths mainly due to the lack of early detection programmes and access to essential, holistic and adequate cancer treatment. These adverse outcomes mainly affect the poor and underprivileged groups such as children with otherwise treatable cancers,” Pacuto said.

She explained that the first phase of the project would provide chemotherapy, surgical oncology and diagnostic services, supported by three operating theatres, intensive care and high-dependency care units.

The facility will also have an advanced imaging department equipped with CT and MRI scanners, mammography, ultrasound and X-ray machines.

The project further provides for two ambulances and specialist training in partnership with France’s Gustave Roussy Institute.

However, the committee raised concerns over the exclusion of radiotherapy from the first phase, warning that the omission could undermine the centre’s immediate capacity to provide comprehensive cancer treatment.

“The Committee expressed concern that omitting radiotherapy from the designs and civil works in Phase 1 will limit the immediate clinical impact of the facility, as 60 percent of cancer patients require radiation therapy,” Pacuto said.

The report also highlighted staffing and medicines shortages, citing an Auditor General’s finding that only 11 of the 259 approved positions at the existing Mbarara cancer centre had been filled.

Additionally, the committee identified an estimated Shs83.5 billion funding gap across the Uganda Cancer Institute for cancer medicines and laboratory supplies.

It urged government to provide adequate funding for recruitment, fulfil its counterpart financing obligations and prioritise accommodation for specialised medical personnel to ensure the centre operates effectively.

The legislators also called for a performance assessment of the French contractor, Tyllium SAS, extended warranties for medical equipment and quarterly reports to Parliament detailing construction progress, expenditure and any implementation delays.

The committee further recommended investment in mobile cancer screening programmes, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and community awareness campaigns to strengthen prevention and early detection.

It also proposed that future expansion plans provide accommodation facilities for outpatients and caregivers who may need to remain near the centre during prolonged treatment.

Bukooli County Central MP Hon. Solomon Silwany said cancer was a challenge that affected everyone, urging Parliament to strengthen oversight of approved loans to ensure borrowed funds deliver the intended public benefits.

Responding to the concerns, the Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Dr Charles Ayume, said the French loan was only sufficient to finance the first phase of the project, making it impossible to incorporate all specialised services, including radiotherapy.

“I would like to allay the fears of the committee that there was an omission on radiotherapy, this is not true. The amount in the loan cannot achieve everything. As government, we shall start small, with basic services such as chemotherapy, surgical oncology and pathology,” Ayume said.

He maintained that the government would begin with essential cancer treatment services before pursuing additional infrastructure and specialised facilities in subsequent phases.

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