KAMPALA JOINS GLOBAL CITY CANCER CARE NETWORK

Uganda’s capital has officially joined the global City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) network, marking a major step in efforts to expand access to timely, quality cancer care in one of East Africa’s fastest-growing urban centers.

The launch ceremony, held Wednesday at the Fairway Boutique Hotel, saw Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) leaders and C/Can officials sign a five-year memorandum of understanding to guide collaboration on improving cancer diagnosis, treatment and care systems across Kampala.

Kampala becomes the 18th city worldwide and the sixth in Africa to join the initiative led by the City Cancer Challenge Foundation, which supports cities in low- and middle-income countries to strengthen cancer care through partnerships and resource mobilization.

“This is about being clear on why this project starts here,” said Sharifah Buzeki, the KCCA Executive Director “Kampala is the referral hub for oncological care in Uganda. If we get it right here, we strengthen the entire country’s response.”

In 2024, Kampala recorded at least 5,600 new cancer cases, with cervical and prostate cancers among the most prevalent. Nationally, Uganda sees an estimated 35,000 new cases annually, reflecting a broader global challenge that has left more than 43 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide.

“Cancer is still a big challenge,” Buzeki said. “Our goal is to help people prevent it, access quality care in order to increase the productivity of our people.”

Speakers emphasized early detection as a critical gap. “There is no reason to lose a life to cancer when we can prevent it,” Buzeki added. “Let us not make a cancer diagnosis a sentence of despair.”

The initiative brings together city authorities, health institutions and international partners to address gaps across the entire care continuum from diagnosis and treatment to palliative care using what officials described as a systems-based approach.

“Cancer is complex,” said Isabel Mestres is the CEO of the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can). “That means we need data, strong systems and collaboration. No single institution can solve it alone.”

She added that the network’s role is to support cities in building sustainable, locally driven solutions. “We are joining forces to help cities get where they want to go,” she said.

Ugandan health leaders welcomed the partnership as a boost to ongoing national efforts.

“The fight against cancer is always a group fight you cannot fight it alone,” said Jackson Orem, the Chief Executive Officer Uganda Cancer Institute. “We welcome C/Can to reinforce what government is already doing.”

Officials pointed to practical improvements already made through city collaboration, including infrastructure upgrades around the Uganda Cancer Institute to protect sensitive medical equipment from dust and support facility expansion.

Patience Asiimwe from Uganda Cancer Society described the development as “another exciting step” toward ensuring equitable access to quality treatment and palliative care.

At the city level, public health leaders stressed the urgency of awareness and screening.

“This is a critical issue that can be prevented at an early stage, but many people don’t know,” said Sarah Zalwango, noting that cervical cancer remains one of the biggest threats to women in Kampala.

Through the partnership, stakeholders aim to expand screening, strengthen the health workforce, improve access to essential medicines and technologies, and build stronger data systems to guide decision-making.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer