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Uganda to borrow €31.98M from France for Mbarara oncology centre
The Ugandan Cabinet has approved a plan to borrow approximately €31.98 million (Shs 139 billion) from the French government to fund the construction and equipping of the Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre.
This initiative aims to decentralize specialized cancer care and reduce the burden on the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala. Currently, many patients from western and northern Uganda face high costs and long distances to access treatment in the capital.
According to statistics from the Uganda Cancer Institute, the country records roughly 36,000 new cancer cases annually, yet only 8,764 patients accessed the institute in Mulago in 2025. Furthermore, between 80 and 87 percent of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which significantly reduces successful treatment outcomes.
Entities
Government of France · Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre · Uganda Cancer Institute · Ugandan Cabinet · Yoweri Museveni
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Between 80 and 87 percent of cancer patients in Uganda present for treatment at an advanced stage of the disease. observer.ug · eagle.co.ug
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ugandan Cabinet approved a loan of approximately €31.98 million (Shs 139 billion) from France to fund a regional oncology centre in Mbarara. observer.ug · eagle.co.ug
- [● 2 SOURCES] Uganda records approximately 36,000 new cancer cases every year. observer.ug · eagle.co.ug
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre is intended to decentralize cancer services and reduce pressure on the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala. observer.ug · eagle.co.ug
- [● 2 SOURCES] In 2025, only 8,764 patients accessed the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago. observer.ug · eagle.co.ug