Minister Muyingo challenges Rotarians to champion cancer prevention
“I want to caution you, my friends of Rotary Club of Mengo, as you run today to fight this deadly disease, don’t just focus on fundraising for treatment. Focus on prevention. 70 percent of cancers can be prevented if we change our lifestyle,” Muyingo said.
President of the Rotary Club of Mengo, Rtn. Fred Kafeero (fourth right), District Governor, Daniel Ddamulira, Muyingo's wife Rosemary Namayanja, Acting Minister of Education Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo (L) attending the event at Murs Resort Hotel on Sunday August 30, 2026. (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)
MUKONO - Acting education and sports minister Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo has cautioned members of Rotary clubs and the public to focus more on cancer prevention rather than only treatment, saying prevention is cheaper and more effective in fighting the deadly disease.
Muyingo, who is also the higher education state minister, made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the annual Rotary Club of Mengo Cancer Run fellowship held at Murs Resort Hotel, Kigunga, in Mukono district, on August 30, 2026. Members turned up to raise funds for the construction of a cancer treatment centre at St Joseph's Nsambya Hospital.
“I want to caution you, my friends of Rotary Club of Mengo, as you run today to fight this deadly disease, don’t just focus on fundraising for treatment. Focus on prevention. 70 percent of cancers can be prevented if we change our lifestyle,” Muyingo said.
“I see we are scoring quite a lot, but people have not seriously thought about cancer prevention. My people from Kapchorwa and all other hard-to-reach areas need to be sensitised to be aware of what causes cancer to save lives,” he cautioned.
Muyingo, who is also an educationist and former teacher, said Uganda is losing too many productive citizens to cancer because people only go to hospital when it is too late.
“Stop smoking, reduce alcohol, avoid early sex that causes cervical cancer, go for early screening, eat natural foods. Prevention is the real run we must all run,” he emphasised.
His message followed an annual run at Kololo Independence Grounds on Sunday morning, organised to raise over sh3b under the theme “Run to Fight Cancer, Prevent Today”. The event brought together Rotarians, cancer survivors, medical workers, students, corporate companies and members of the public.
He said the government is concerned that cancer has become the third leading cause of death in Uganda after malaria and HIV/AIDS, with over 34,000 new cases registered annually and over 22,000 deaths, according to Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) data.
The most common cancers in Uganda are cervical cancer among women, prostate cancer among men, breast cancer, Burkitt lymphoma in children, and Kaposi sarcoma and oesophageal cancer in both sexes.
Muyingo contributed sh10m as the governor’s club support to boost the fight against cancer.
The president of the Rotary Club of Mengo, Fred Kafeero, said the club started the cancer run six years ago after noticing that many members were losing relatives to cancer due to a lack of nearby screening services in Rubaga Division.
“This year we target to raise sh500m. Last year we raised money which helped us purchase ultrasound machines and build a patient waiting shelter at Nsambya.”
“This time we want to build a fully-fledged cancer screening and palliative care centre at Mengo Hospital to serve the urban poor who cannot reach Mulago or Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI),” he said.
District Governor D9214 decorating Acting Minister of Education Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo as her wife Rose Namayanja Muyingo looks on. (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)
Mengo Rotary has partnered with UCI, St Francis Hospital Nsambya and Mengo Hospital to conduct free screening camps for cervical, breast and prostate cancers during the run.
More than 1,500 people were screened on Sunday alone, with 32 women referred for further cervical cancer tests and 18 men flagged for prostate check-ups.
Kafeero commended Minister Muyingo for cautioning members on prevention, saying the club will now include prevention education in its weekly fellowships.
District governor D9214, Daniel Ddamulira, decorated Muyingo with the governor’s pin for his outstanding contribution to the Rotary Foundation.
“We recently secured sh3b pledge from the Parliament of Uganda as part of contribution towards raising over sh5b that was budgeted to complete cancer building and equip the ward,” Ddamulira said.
Seeta University joins fight against cancer
Academic registrar Ronald Mbago said Seeta University has officially joined the national fight against cancer with the launch of a comprehensive cancer prevention, screening and awareness programme targeting students, staff and surrounding communities.
Mbago said the university can no longer remain silent as cancer continues to claim the lives of young people and academics.
“Cancer is no longer a disease of the old and rich. It is killing our students, our lecturers, our mothers and our fathers. As a university that trains health workers, teachers and social workers, we have a responsibility to join the fight,” he said.
Mbago revealed that a survey conducted by the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences in January 2025 found that 82% of female students had never been screened for cervical cancer and 65% did not know about HPV vaccination that prevents cervical cancer.
“Among male students, 90% had never been screened for any cancer and associated prostate cancer screening with stigma. That survey shocked us. It showed our own students, who are supposed to be the most informed, are the most at risk because they think cancer is for old people. That is why we said we must act now,” Mbago observed.
Uganda registers over 34,000 new cancer cases annually and over 22,000 deaths, according to Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI).
“Cervical cancer remains the leading killer of women, while prostate cancer leads among men, but 70% of these deaths are preventable if detected early,” Mbago insisted.