Vision Group, Rotary seek stronger partnership to support Cancer Run

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Vision Group and the Rotary Club are exploring a deeper partnership to bolster support for the upcoming Cancer Run.

During a meeting with Vision Group Chief Executive Officer Don Wanyama, Rotary Club programme executive director Nelson Kabwama, and board chairperson Stephen Mwanje reaffirmed the Rotary Club's commitment to working closely with Vision Group to raise awareness about the dangers of cancer.

In a meeting held on June 25, 2025, at the Vision Group head office on First Street at the Industrial Area in Kampala, Mwanje said proceeds from the Cancer Run will go towards improving the bunker at Nsambya Hospital, purchasing additional cancer treatment equipment and also training medical personnel.

Stephen Mwanje Chairman Uganda Rotary Cancer Program during the visit of Rotary board members to Vision Group Headquarters on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Mary Kansiime)

“After completing the cancer bunker at Nsambya Hospital, we still need to raise funds to train personnel and purchase more equipment. This requires a stronger partnership,” Mwanje said.

This year’s Cancer Run is scheduled to take place nationwide on August 31.

Mwanje said there is still lack of awareness in Uganda about cancer, how it kills people, adding that Vision Group, through its wide coverage across the country, is a key partner in creating awareness.

“The reason so many people are dying is the lack of awareness about the disease. Very few Ugandans can afford treatment abroad, and by the time they realise they have cancer, it is often too late to manage,” Mwanje said.

He said radiotherapy, a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells, is expensive and remains out of reach for many Ugandans. According to the Uganda Cancer Institute, approximately 24,629 people die from cancer each year.

Wanyama commends Rotary Club

Wanyama commended Rotary Club for its continued efforts in supporting the fight against cancer.

“Each of us has been affected by cancer in one way or another. This is an initiative we all need to support,” Wanyama said.

(L-R) Don Wanyama, Chief Executive Officer of Vision Group during visit of Rotary board members to Vision Group Headquarters on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Mary Kansiime)

Wanyama assured the Rotary Club of Vision Group’s continued support, saying the company considers health as one of its top priorities. He noted that as a multimedia company that started 39 years ago, Vision Group has supported Cancer Run activities for the past 14 years.

Wanyama said Vision Group goes beyond traditional journalism and that its mission is to advance society. He further added that supporting initiatives like the Cancer Run are part of the company’s commitment to driving positive change in communities.

According to the Uganda Cancer Institute, approximately 24,629 people die from cancer each year.

Kabwama said partnering with a multimedia house like Vision Group also ensures that cancer awareness campaigns maintain visibility over time in a country like Uganda, where late diagnosis and limited access to treatment remain major challenges in the fight against cancer.

“With their wide reach and trusted influence, a media house like Vision Group can disseminate life-saving information across different regions and demographics, including hard-to-reach communities,” Kabwama said.

Nelson Mboijana, the chief executive officer of RSI, a marketing company, which is part of the Cancer Run organising team, said the Cancer Run should have a lasting impact beyond the event itself by making people more aware of cancer and its dangers.

He expressed the need to explore future activities that can extend the project's reach and reinforce awareness throughout the year, not just during the run.