______________

The construction of Gulu Regional Cancer Centre is nearing completion with its commissioning anticipated to take place in mid–June, this year.

The project being executed in a phased manner is already at close to 90 per cent in completion and the contractor is currently constructing a perimeter wall fence and a gate in a bid to complete the first phase.

The incomplete gate of the regional cancer center. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

The construction of a waiting area, outpatient department, pharmacy, wards, intensive care unit, kitchen, laundry and mortuary have already been completed, while a CT scan machine and other medical equipment have already been installed in the ultrasound, mammography, digital x-ray, CT scan, and operating theatre units respectively.

One of the operating theatres at the regional cancer center. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

On April 12, 2024, the Uganda Cancer Institute Board led by chairman Prof. William Bazeyo, toured the regional cancer centre that sits on a 4.5-acre piece of land in Pece–Laroo Division in Gulu city.

UCI Board Chairman Prof. William Bazeyo inspecting the CT Scan machine at the Gulu Regional Cancer Center. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

Julius Ddamulira, the Uganda Cancer Institute project architect told the Board that after fully completing the first phase of the project, they would roll out the second project which includes the construction of a radiology department, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite, main hospital, emergency unit, administration block, and private wards, among others.

According to Ddamulira, they will roll out the third and fourth phases of the project when more land is acquired and some lots have already been identified.

“Phase three of the project will have radiology therapy, meeting room, paediatric ward, main laboratory, main patients’ kitchen, main laundry, medical gasses, engineering workshop and a mortuary, among others,” he said.

Whereas work is still ongoing to complete the centre, Amos Obote, the in–charge of the regional cancer centre revealed that the 19 staff at the centre have already started attending to patients.

According to Obote, they attended to 377 clients from July to December last year and 221 were cancer patients.

Dr Jackson Orem, the Uganda Cancer Institute executive director said more staff have recently been recruited to boost the Gulu Regional Cancer Centre and that they anticipate to officially commission the centre in mid–June this year.

UCI board led by its Chairman Prof. William Bazeyo (center), Gulu City leader and some staff of the center pose for a group photo. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)

Prof. Bazeyo observed that there is a need to put up a waiting shade for the patients’ attendants since the centre will attract many patients with their attendants from the Northern region, as well as the neighbouring countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He, however, stated that the Board will develop a policy which shall indicate the charges to be levied on foreign nationals seeking the services at the regional cancer centre.

“For now, they are being attended to free of charge, but in the near future, we shall charge them some fees,” he said.

The Gulu Regional Cancer Centre is one of the centres being established to decongest the National Cancer Institute. Others include Mbale, Mbarara, and Arua.