A patient at Mbarara Cancer InstituteCabinet has approved plans to borrow up to €31.98 million (about Shs 139 billion) from the French government to finance the construction and equipping of a regional oncology centre in Mbarara, in a move intended to bring specialised cancer care closer to patients in western Uganda.The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, on Monday, August 24, 2026, alongside measures on agricultural productivity, care for older persons, professional regulation and Uganda’s international engagements.The proposed Mbarara Regional Oncology Centre is expected to ease pressure on the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala, which currently carries a substantial share of the country’s specialised cancer diagnosis and treatment services.For patients from western, northern and other parts of the country, accessing specialised cancer care in Kampala often means repeated long-distance journeys, prolonged stays in the capital and additional costs for transport, accommodation and treatment.Some patients also travel outside Uganda in search of specialised care, further increasing the financial burden on families and contributing to the loss of health expenditure to foreign countries.According to a Cabinet statement delivered by ICT and National Guidance minister Justine Kasule Lumumba, the French financing will support the establishment of the Mbarara centre as part of government’s efforts to decentralise cancer services.“Cancer services must be brought closer to the people,” the statement said.The government cited UCI statistics showing that Uganda records about 36,000 new cancer cases annually, but only 8,764 patients accessed the Uganda Cancer Institute at Mulago in 2025.Cabinet was also told that between 80 and 87 per cent of cancer patients seek treatment after the disease has already reached an advanced stage, significantly reducing their chances of successful treatment and survival.The Mbarara centre is therefore expected to do more than provide treatment. Government says it will expand access to cancer diagnosis, strengthen referral systems and support prevention, community sensitisation and early detection in the region.The project is also being presented as part of Uganda’s broader efforts to expand health infrastructure and advance universal health coverage, under which people should be able to obtain essential healthcare without being pushed into financial hardship.However, the effectiveness of the new facility will ultimately depend on more than buildings and equipment.Health experts have repeatedly warned that Uganda’s cancer response also requires sustained investment in specialised human resources, including oncologists, pathologists, radiographers, nurses and other health professionals. The centre will also require reliable radiotherapy services, diagnostic equipment, essential medicines and functional referral networks linking it to lower-level health facilities.Uganda prepares for NAM ministerial meetingBeyond the health sector, Cabinet approved preparations for Uganda to host the final statutory ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) under the country’s current chairmanship.The meeting is scheduled for December 2-4, 2026, with Cabinet approving an organising committee and technical subcommittees to oversee preparations.Uganda assumed the chairmanship of NAM for the 2024-2027 period after hosting the 19th NAM Summit in Kampala in January 2024 under the theme, “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.”Cabinet approved a budget of Shs 3.869 billion for the December meeting. The gathering will give Uganda another opportunity to shape discussions within one of the world’s largest multilateral groupings, particularly on issues affecting developing countries, including development financing, climate change, international trade, conflicts and reform of global institutions.Government said the meeting would enable Uganda to “provide leadership within the Movement and advance cooperation on issues of shared concern among member states.”Cabinet backs fertiliser programmeCabinet also considered plans for the procurement, supply and distribution of fertilisers to farmers across the country as part of efforts to increase agricultural production and productivity, particularly for strategic crops.The programme will be implemented through the ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and will include farmers benefiting from the Parish Development Model (PDM).Cabinet said detailed implementation arrangements, including the crops to be targeted, beneficiary areas and distribution mechanisms, would be developed and communicated to the public.Those details will be important in determining whether the programme translates into higher farm productivity. Previous agricultural input programmes have faced challenges around timely delivery, targeting, transparency and ensuring that inputs reach the intended beneficiaries.The effectiveness of the fertiliser intervention will therefore depend not only on the volume procured but also on whether farmers receive the right inputs, in the right quantities and at the right time, and whether the programme produces measurable improvements in yields and household incomes.Older persons to be celebratedCabinet further approved arrangements for Uganda’s commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, 2026.The national commemoration will be held under the theme, “Ageing with Dignity: Strengthening Care and Support Systems,” with President Museveni expected to be chief guest at the virtual event hosted from State House, Entebbe.The event will highlight the contribution of older persons to families and communities while drawing attention to the need for stronger systems of care, protection and social support as Uganda responds to the needs of an ageing population.The post Cabinet approves Shs 139bn French loan for Mbarara cancer centre appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.