Kampala, Uganda – July 25, 2025 – Centenary Bank yesterday demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the fight against cancer in Uganda, handing over a cheque of UGX 500 million to Rotary Uganda in support of the upcoming Rotary Cancer Run 2025. This significant contribution underscores the ongoing partnership between the two organisations, aimed at enhancing cancer treatment and care facilities across the country.

The handover ceremony, held at St. Francis Nsambya Hospital, was particularly touching. This location holds special significance as it is where Rotary and Centenary Bank have collaboratively established a vital cancer centre. The event featured a powerful testimony from a cancer survivor, a living embodiment of hope, who shared their journey and underscored the critical message that a cancer diagnosis should not equate to a death sentence when treatment is accessible.

A Dire Reality: The Urgent Need for Resources

The gravity of Uganda’s cancer crisis was further illuminated by Past District Governor (PDG) Stephen Mwanje of Rotary District 9213. PDG Mwanje shared a deeply personal account of accompanying his mother to the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago over recent months. His firsthand observations revealed the dire and often heartbreaking realities faced by patients and healthcare professionals alike.

A critical point highlighted was the severe shortage of vital equipment. For every linear accelerator machine, approximately 1 million patients can be treated. However, the current reality in Uganda is stark: while precise current statistics for newly diagnosed cases vary, it is understood that the burden of cancer in Uganda affects a significant portion of the population, with hundreds of thousands of new cases diagnosed annually and millions living with or affected by the disease. PDG Mwanje recounted the tragic experience of witnessing two to three deaths daily at the cancer unit in Mulago Hospital, a devastating testament to the resource limitations.

Conversations with medical professionals at the hospital confirmed that numerous lives could be saved if adequate resources and capacity were available. The current deficit is alarming; Uganda critically needs at least 10 functional linear accelerator machines to adequately address the current patient load.

Collaborative Efforts for a Healthier Future

For the past 13 years, Rotary and Centenary Bank, alongside other dedicated partners, have been instrumental in constructing a comprehensive cancer facility at Nsambya Hospital. This new center is designed to initially house two state-of-the-art linear accelerator machines. The ambitious target is to have these machines fully operational by 2027, with a long-term vision to scale up to 10 machines nationwide by 2040. While speaking at the Rotary Cancer Run activation event held at Nsambya Hospital, Centenary Bank Managing Director, Fabian Kasi, reiterated the Bank’s enduring partnership with Rotary International in supporting health, education, and environmental causes throughout Uganda. He underscored the Bank’s strong commitment, citing contributions of over UGX 3 billion over the past 13 years toward the Cancer Run, active involvement in more than 300 health camps, and co-investment in major infrastructure projects such as the Rotary-Centenary Cancer Centre and radiation bunkers at Nsambya. This year alone, the Bank has pledged UGX 500 million to the Cancer Run and an additional UGX 300 million to other Rotary initiatives.

This monumental undertaking is undeniably an expensive endeavor. Therefore, Rotary Uganda and its partners are issuing a heartfelt appeal to every individual, organisation, and corporate entity capable of supporting this noble cause. The collective effort is crucial to reaching this year’s Rotary Cancer Run fundraising target of UGX 4 billion, which will directly contribute to acquiring these life-saving machines and expanding cancer care access across Uganda.

Join hands with us to turn the tide against cancer and offer hope to countless Ugandans.