The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala is reportedly establishing a new Division of Oncology Palliative Care and Cancer Survivorship, aiming to strengthen support services that go beyond cancer treatment. This initiative seeks to integrate palliative and survivorship care fully into the cancer treatment pathway, according to a report published by AllAfrica on 25 September 2026.
UCI, located on Upper Mulago Hill Road, already offers palliative care through a team comprising specialist nurses and doctors. The institute provides a range of services including palliative care, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support, guiding patients from diagnosis to recovery. “Our patients also receive palliative care and rehabilitation services,” the institute explains on its website.
This development aligns with Uganda’s national cancer control framework, which emphasises palliative care and survivorship as core pillars. The Uganda Ministry of Health has noted that palliative care is available in 230 accredited facilities across 107 districts, but currently only reaches about 10 to 11 percent of those in need.
Mark Mwesiga, executive director of the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, highlighted that “at least 226 health facilities offer a form of palliative care,” though services remain stretched and under-resourced, as reported by The Guardian in March 2023. This scarcity underscores the urgency of expanding specialised divisions like the one UCI is establishing.
The World Health Organization defines palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness by preventing and relieving suffering and addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.” The integration of such care within cancer treatment is crucial for comprehensive cancer control, as Uganda’s model demonstrates.
Since its establishment in 1967, UCI has been Uganda’s leading cancer treatment and research centre. In recent years, the institute and national health policies have increasingly recognised palliative care and survivorship as vital components of cancer control. The planned division at UCI reflects this ongoing commitment, although detailed confirmation about the division’s formal launch, structure, and staffing remains pending beyond the initial AllAfrica report.
The expansion comes ahead of Uganda’s 5th conference on cancer and palliative care, which the Ministry of Health announced would be hosted in 2025, offering a platform to discuss challenges and progress in these areas.
While the division’s full operational status and leadership details have not been independently confirmed, this reported step fits within Uganda’s broader health strategy to improve cancer patient outcomes through holistic care.
Cape Flats News will continue to monitor UCI and Ministry of Health updates on the division’s implementation and its impact on cancer care across Uganda.