Strengthening Cancer Care in Uganda: The Impact of the Rotary-Centenary Bank Partnership

November being the Prostate cancer awareness month, Redpepper online looks back on how far the fight against cancer has come in the country.

For a long time, Uganda had only one dedicated cancer treatment center which is at Mulogo Hospital.

However, through partnerships and initiatives such as the Cancer Run, Rotary Uganda and Centenary Bank have been able to construct another center in Nsambya Hospital.

In today’s publication, through Dr. Andrew Sekitoleko, CEO of St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, we are reminded of the positive impact that collaboration can bring about for communities.

READ ON:

Strengthening Cancer Care in Uganda: The Impact of the Rotary-Centenary Bank Partnership

Cancer is an increasing public health concern in Uganda that is gradually tightening its grip on society. Recent research indicates that there has a significant surge in cases and there is an urgent need to intensify efforts to combat the disease.

The Uganda Cancer Society (UCS) estimates that out of the 33,000 to 34,000 new cancer cases reported annually in Uganda, only 7,400 patients reach the Uganda Cancer Institute in the early stages.

This is largely due to a lack of facilities capable of providing timely and effective treatment and has left a good number of people in the country unable to detect the disease early only to seek treatment when it is too late.

For years, Uganda had only one dedicated cancer treatment centre, the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago Hospital. However, 14 years ago, Rotary Uganda, in collaboration with various sponsors, including Centenary Bank, launched a charity run to raise funds for an additional cancer facility.

This initiative led to the establishment of the Rotary-Centenary Bank Cancer Centre at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya and has eased the burden of cancer care in the country.

Currently, the centre provides essential services, including screening, chemotherapy, surgical procedures, and palliative care and serves over 3,000 patients annually. By bridging the gap in access to cancer treatment, the centre has become a key alternative to the Uganda Cancer Institute.

Dr Andrew Sekitoleko, CEO of St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, stresses the importance of affordable healthcare, particularly for diseases like cancer.

“A big number of people live with diseases without knowing because healthcare in Uganda remains expensive. Routine tests that would help detect diseases early are not cheap to the average Ugandan,” he emphasises.

Nsambya Hospital operates as a public-private institution, meaning some services require payment. However, Dr Sekitoleko maintains that the facility is committed to serving all Ugandans.

“We offer private healthcare services at a subsidised rate. This allows Ugandans to receive world-class treatment at a reduced cost thereby eliminating the need to travel abroad for specialised care that can be done here.”

One of the most pressing issues in cancer treatment is the limited access to radiotherapy services. In response, efforts are underway to construct two bunkers at Nsambya Hospital to house advanced LINAC cancer treatment machines.

Funds raised through the Rotary-Centenary Bank annual Cancer Run will be directed towards completing the building where these bunkers will be located. For the 2025 edition, Centenary Bank has already committed USD 136,000, in addition to the over USD 800,000 it has contributed since the project’s inception.

These efforts aim to fast-track the completion of the cancer Centre so that more Ugandans can access early detection and world-class treatment without incurring the high costs of seeking care abroad.

Beyond oncology, Dr Sekitoleko says that there is a need for stronger collaborations between healthcare providers and financial institutions to elevate Uganda’s medical services to international standards.

“In today’s environment, it is crucial to partner with a financial institution, as we have with Centenary Bank. There are developments within the financial sector that could greatly benefit the medical profession, but we may not always be fully aware of them.”

Centenary Bank has played a pivotal role in modernising Nsambya Hospital, specifically through the construction and equipping of the Mother Kevin Private Wing, which has transformed service delivery.

Additionally, the bank’s Sasula portal (an enterprise platform that enables payment collections over mobile, bank and other channels for business customers) has simplified medical bill payments to make healthcare services more accessible and efficient.