For decades, Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has been at the forefront of cancer treatment and research in East Africa. Established in 1967 as the Lymphoma Treatment Centre (LTC), UCI has faced numerous challenges, including political instability, financial setbacks, and limited resources. However, the institute’s resilience and determination to provide quality medical care and research have kept it going.
UCI’s success is rooted in its history, which dates back to a meeting in Kampala in 1965 to discuss Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare form of cancer that affects children in East Africa. The institute was later established through a partnership between the Makerere University Medical School, Ministry of Health, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the USA. Despite facing challenges related to political instability and financial setbacks, UCI continued to provide basic patient care and maintain a strong research program.
UCI’s current chairman, Dr. Jackson Orem, has been instrumental in the institute’s revival. He has established collaborations with national and international research teams and restored the institute’s financial autonomy. Under his leadership, UCI is making significant progress in cancer treatment and research, and several projects are already underway.
The resilience of UCI is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its medical staff and researchers. Despite limited resources and numerous challenges, the institute remains committed to providing quality medical care and advancing cancer research in East Africa. Restoring hope to patients and their families, UCI is a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and dedication.
