Uganda Cancer Institute acquires new MRI machine
Dr Godfrey Osinde, who leads the Nuclear Medicine department at UCI, said the equipment will be ready for use after full installation.
Uganda Cancer Institute board members checking out the new MRI machine at the institute in Kampala on April 14, 2026. (Credit: Francis Emorut)
Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has installed a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine — a non-invasive medical imaging device that is primarily used to diagnose conditions related to the brain, spine, joints, and muscles.
The MRI machine does so by detecting differences between healthy and unhealthy tissue.
Dr Godfrey Osinde, who leads the Nuclear Medicine department at UCI, said the equipment will be ready for use after full installation.
This was on Tuesday (April 14) as the members of the UCI board, led by chairperson Prof. Damalie Nakanjako, toured the new sh500b multipurpose building at Mulago, where the machine is located.
They were impressed with the progress.
The board commended the Ugandan government for project, which it is funding to improve radiotherapy services.
Osinde told the board members that so far, the government has injected sh150b into the project.
The chairperson of Uganda Cancer Institute board, Prof. Damalie Nakanjako (third left), with Dr Solomon Kibuude (centre), Dr Godfrey Osinde (third right), the executive director of UCI, Dr Jackson Orem (second right) and other officials inspecting the radiotherapy machine at Mulago Hospital on April 14, 2026. (Credit: Francis Emorut)
Cancer is a significant health challenge in Uganda, with approximately 34,000 new cases and 22,000 deaths annually. Cervical cancer is the most common, followed by breast and prostate cancers.
Facelift for radiotherapy department
Also on Tuesday, the board members toured the refurbished Radiotherapy Department at UCI.
Dr Solomon Kibudde, the head of the department, said the facility, which underwent a facelift to a tune of sh1.5b, now has the capacity to serve 300 cancer patients daily.
The facility is equipped with radiotherapy nuclear machines, which use high-energy X-rays or electrons to destroy cancer cells by damaging their DNA while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
It is a refreshingly new ambience. For instance, the consultation rooms have been equipped with computers and new seats have been installed in the waiting zone.