No herbal medicine approved for prostate cancer treatment, UCI says
Jatho explained that medicines must undergo different stages of scientific investigation before they can be recommended for public use.
Uganda Cancer Institute Head of Community Cancer Services Dr Alfred Jatho addresses a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. (PHOTO BY FRANCIS EMORU)T
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The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has not received any approval to use or recommend any herbal medicine or dietary supplement for preventing or treating prostate cancer, warning men against relying on unproven remedies as the disease continues to claim lives in the country.
Interacting with the media in Kampala on November 11, Dr Alfred Jatho, Head of Community Cancer Services at UCI, said although research into plant-based medicines and herbal products was ongoing, none had yet generated sufficient evidence and regulatory approval for the institute to recommend their use in cancer prevention or treatment.
Men seeking prostate cancer remedies, he suggested, should rely on treatments and preventive interventions supported by scientific evidence and recommended by recognised health authorities rather than products whose effectiveness has not been established.
"It's the national drug authority that does the approval. Currently, we do not have one that we can clearly stand as the Uganda Cancer Institute or as the government body for fighting cancer, recommending to the public that they use it because of a certain level of evidence," Jatho said during a press conference hosted by Uganda Media Centre.
UCI is using November's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to encourage men to seek information, discuss screening with health workers and challenge misconceptions surrounding the disease.
Some herbal products being promoted in the media for cancer prevention and treatment have not reached the level of evidence required for medical recommendations, he warned.
"In the context of cancer in Uganda, we recommend only what the Uganda Cancer Institute has approved and what we can reliably defend based on the available evidence," Jatho stressed.
He said Uganda's National Drug Authority is responsible for regulating medicines, while herbal products intended for use also require appropriate testing and assessment before they can be endorsed for medical use.
Jatho acknowledged that individuals may choose to use herbal products, particularly those undergoing research, but cautioned that personal decisions should not be confused with medical recommendations.
The institute says up to 80% of Ugandan men diagnosed with prostate cancer reach treatment centres when the disease is already at an advanced stage, often stage three or four, when treatment becomes more difficult, and the chances of a cure are reduced.
Low screening uptake, stigma and limited diagnostic services outside major urban centres have contributed to late diagnosis.
Jatho said prostate cancer can develop without noticeable warning signs in its early stages, making discussions about screening particularly important for men aged 40 and above, especially those with a family history of the disease.
Screening begins with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which measures a protein produced by the prostate gland. Depending on the results, a doctor may recommend further examination, including a digital rectal examination.
UCI is encouraging men to discuss screening with health workers rather than waiting until they experience symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, blood in urine or persistent lower back pain.
Jatho said the institute provides free prostate cancer screening through its community cancer services, including outreach activities in different parts of the country. He also said the government was expanding cancer services through regional centres in Mbarara, Gulu, Arua and Mbale to reduce the need for patients to travel to Kampala for care.