Construction of Cancer Institute bunker to be completed in 2017

Construction of the bunker at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is expected to be completed next year in May. 

The new bunker will house two therapy machines and four linear accelerator machines.

The spokesperson of UCI Christine Namulindwa said the construction of the bunker is funded by government at a cost of sh25b adding that construction ongoing according to schedule.

The machines are expected to treat the entire East African region since UCI recently became the East African Oncology Centre of Excellency.

"The contractors are working tirelessly to see that this job that was assigned to them is completed within the given period of time and they are working day and night" Namulindwa said.

"These bunkers will be six in number of which four of those rooms will be for linear accelerator machines and then the two will be for therapy treatment. Very many patients will be able to benefit because on the old machine between 80-90 patients were being treated in a day so we anticipate the number to increase" she added.

The breakdown of the radiotherapy equipment early this year caused panic at the institute as many patients were stranded because they could not undergo radiotherapy treatment.