25 March 2026, Kampala, Uganda – The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Uganda Ministry of Health, the Uganda Cancer Institute, the Uganda Cancer Society, and City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) are very pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive, locally led programme to improve access to quality cancer care in Kampala, Uganda. The organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise a new partnership to strengthen cancer care services across the city.
With this agreement, Kampala becomes the 18th core city to join the C/Can network and the sixth in Africa, joining a global initiative that supports cities in building more equitable, resilient and sustainable cancer care systems.
Cancer represents a growing public health challenge in Uganda. According to GLOBOCAN 2022, Uganda recorded 35,968 new cancer cases nationally, with cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, breast cancer and lung cancer among the most frequently diagnosed. Despite progress at national level, access to timely diagnosis and treatment remains uneven, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas.
In Kampala alone, an estimated 5,664 new cancer cases were recorded in 2024. Cervical, breast and prostate cancers account for the largest share of diagnoses, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen early detection, referral pathways and treatment capacity within the city’s health system.
As Uganda’s capital and primary referral hub for specialised oncology services, Kampala plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s cancer response. The city’s decision to join C/Can signals a strong political commitment to coordinated, multi-sector action to address systemic gaps in cancer care delivery.
This partnership with C/Can will enable Kampala city to accelerate progress in cancer care, ensuring equitable access to quality services for our citizens.
Ms Sharifah Buyekzi, Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
The Ministry of Health welcomes Kampala’s partnership with C/Can, which aligns with Uganda’s national cancer control priorities and strengthens efforts to provide equitable, quality cancer care across the country.
Dr Charles Olaro, Director General, Health Services Uganda.
Over the coming months, the collaboration will bring together public and private healthcare providers, policymakers, civil society organisations and patient representatives to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the city’s cancer care landscape. Through this stakeholder engagement process, partners will identify priority interventions and define locally driven solutions. The implementation of these solutions will then take place over a longer time horizon of five to ten years, strengthening cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care coordination across the city.
The Uganda Cancer Institute remains committed to strengthening access to timely diagnosis and quality cancer treatment for all Ugandans. Kampala’s partnership with C/Can represents an important opportunity to reinforce coordination across providers, expand capacity and ensure that patients receive the care they need.
Dr Jackson Orems, Executive Director, Uganda Cancer Institute.
The initiative aligns with Uganda’s national cancer control priorities and broader efforts to advance universal health coverage. C/Can’s structured City Engagement Process Framework (CEPF) will guide the initiative, ensuring that reforms are evidence-based.
Civil society plays a critical role in ensuring that the voices and needs of patients remain at the centre of cancer care. Through this partnership, we look forward to working alongside government, healthcare providers and communities to promote awareness, early detection and patient support across Kampala.
Ms Patience Asiimwe, Executive Director, Uganda Cancer Society.
Kampala’s entry into the C/Can network will allow the city to benefit from global experience while tailoring solutions to local needs, reinforcing our mission to close the cancer care gap worldwide
Isabel Mestres, CEO, City Cancer Challenge
Implementation will be overseen by a City Executive Committee composed of local stakeholders and supported by dedicated technical expertise. This governance structure ensures that decisions remain locally led while benefiting from global knowledge exchange.
By joining C/Can, Kampala strengthens its own health system while contributing to a growing community of cities across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America working collectively to close the cancer care gap. Moreover, Kampala will join a subset of cities within the C/Can network participating in the Knowledge Hubs programme, which implements dedicated strategies to strengthen local research capacity and support the generation and translation of evidence into practice and policy.
The onboarding of Kampala as a core city in C/Can’s network is made possible thanks to the support of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and the Sanofi Global Health Unit. C/Can wishes to thank these partners for their continued trust and contribution.
