By Joseph Mary Buwule
KAMPALA, Uganda — Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has urged Members of Parliament to become ambassadors for cancer screening and early detection in their constituencies as Uganda continues to grapple with a growing burden of cancer.
Tayebwa made the call during his communication from the Chair in Thursday’s plenary sitting, as Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end.
He challenged MPs to use their regular engagements with constituents to promote cancer screening, arguing that early detection can improve access to timely treatment and outcomes for patients.
“As the month comes to an end, we should be ambassadors for early cancer screening and detection,” Tayebwa said.
He encouraged legislators to make cancer awareness part of their community engagements and to mobilise people to take advantage of available screening services.
“Whenever we have an opportunity in our constituencies, let us encourage everyone to go for cancer screening,” he added.
Tayebwa also called on MPs to sensitise communities about healthy lifestyle choices and the need to avoid behaviours associated with an increased risk of cancer.
“We should sensitise people on health and lifestyle choices by encouraging them to avoid behaviours that increase cancer risk, such as smoking and drinking alcohol,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker’s call comes amid concerns over Uganda’s rising cancer burden and the challenges many patients face in accessing early diagnosis and treatment.
The Ministry of Health estimates that Uganda records about 36,000 new cancer cases every year, highlighting the importance of prevention, routine screening and early treatment.
Health authorities have also identified late presentation as a major challenge in cancer management. Government health documents have previously linked the high mortality associated with cancer to limited access to early diagnosis and treatment, as well as gaps in cancer care infrastructure.
MPs raise concerns over access
Responding to Tayebwa’s communication, Bukooli County Central MP Solomon Silwany called on the government to provide an update on plans to extend cancer screening and treatment services beyond regional cancer centres to district hospitals.
Silwany said many Ugandans continue to face difficulties because they have to travel long distances to access specialised cancer services.
“Ugandans are really suffering and travelling long distances to go to the regional centres for cancer,” Silwany said.
His concerns reflect wider calls for greater decentralisation of cancer services. In August 2026, MPs also raised concerns about gaps in cancer screening, with legislators calling for greater investment in mobile screening services to bring early detection closer to communities.
Government plans more regional cancer services
Immediate former Minister of Health and Government Chief Whip Jane Ruth Aceng acknowledged the challenges faced by cancer patients, particularly those who have to travel considerable distances to access specialised services.
Aceng said the Uganda Cancer Institute conducts community outreach programmes aimed at bringing screening services closer to the population.
“It is true the burden of cancer is big and many of our people are suffering from all the constituencies. They have to walk or get transport to move long distances to access cancer services,” Aceng said.
She further said the government plans to establish cancer units or institutes across all 18 regions of the country under the National Resistance Movement manifesto.
According to Aceng, work is already underway in several regions.
“So far, we have in Acholi sub-region, Mbale sub-region is ongoing, Ankole sub-region in Mbarara and one will be in West Nile sub-region,” she said.
Aceng explained that establishing and equipping cancer facilities requires significant financial resources and would require continued collaboration between the Executive and Parliament.
She expressed confidence that the government’s commitment to expanding cancer services across the country would eventually ensure wider geographical coverage.
“Every region will be covered and that also goes for the cancer institutes in every region. It is in the manifesto and I believe it will be implemented,” she said.
Early detection remains critical
Uganda’s cancer-care system has historically faced challenges related to infrastructure, specialist staffing, equipment, financing and access to services. Government planning documents have identified regional cancer centres as an important part of efforts to bring specialised services closer to patients and reduce pressure on the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala.
The Uganda Cancer Institute has also emphasised the importance of screening and early diagnosis, with government monitoring data showing that patients continue to present at both early and advanced stages of disease.
For Tayebwa, MPs have an important role to play because of their direct contact with communities.
By using constituency meetings, community mobilisation activities and other public engagements to promote screening and healthy lifestyles, legislators can help increase awareness about cancer and encourage people to seek medical attention earlier.
The call also places cancer prevention and early detection alongside the broader need to strengthen Uganda’s health system, particularly at lower-level facilities where many communities first seek care.
As Uganda works to expand specialised cancer services beyond Kampala, the debate in Parliament has highlighted the need for both infrastructure and community-level awareness to ensure that cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment are accessible to more Ugandans.
