The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is preparing to perform its first ever bone marrow transplant, a step that signals a new era for cancer treatment in Uganda and the wider East African region.
The procedure comes as UCI officially positions itself as an East African Centre of Excellence, responding to a growing cancer burden and a long standing gap in access to advanced, life saving treatments.
For years, patients requiring bone marrow transplants have had to seek care abroad, often at great financial and emotional cost, and for many, not at all.
“This transplant is not just a medical procedure; it is a turning point,” Dr Henry Dungu - Consultant Haematologist. “The need is enormous, and the burden of disease continues to rise. This is about giving patients a fighting chance, closer to home.”
Bone marrow transplants are critical in the treatment of several blood cancers, particularly lymphoma and multiple myeloma, which account for a significant proportion of cancer cases seen at the institute.
Until now, the absence of local transplant services has limited treatment options and survival outcomes for many patients.
For patients and families, the development brings renewed hope. A transplant often represents the final and sometimes only chance for cure or long term remission.
Having this care available within Uganda reduces delays, lowers costs, and keeps patients near their support systems during one of the most demanding journeys of their lives.
As UCI prepares for its first transplant, the moment stands as both a medical achievement and a human one, symbolizing progress, resilience, and the possibility of longer, healthier lives for thousands of patients across the region.