Power crisis hits Northern Uganda regional cancer institute

Gulu | Northern Uganda Regional Cancer Institute (RCI) is facing power supply crisis in addition to other challenges, interrupting the smooth running.

The RCI construction started in 2021. At only 20% completion rate, the institute was opened to start operations in early  2023. Today, the construction work has reached 80 percent.

The shs 34.5 billion centre sits in Koro, Gulu. It’s funded by the Austrian government.

Dr. Amos Obote, head of the facility confirmed that they spend 11 liters of fuel per hour on generator due to power blackout every weekend.

Obote said for the facility to run 24 hours without interruption, they must spend about shs1.64 million on the generator alone. They do not have the budget to meet the cost, he added.

Amid challenges at the facility, he told tndNews they have so far attended to over 377 patients. Out of the figures, 221 have confirmed cancer cases which need treatment.

Some months ago, he said they had a meeting with the manager of UMEME Gulu branch and tabled the matter of unreliable power supply.

“As management of the center, we are looking for other alternatives to engage some power energy company to install the power energy. We cannot be able to meet the cost of generator consumption,” Obote revealed.

Doreen Ogenga, the operations manager of UMEME for Gulu and Kitgum branches, in a phone interview with tndNews she is not aware of such crisis and no file is before her.

Ogenga, however, said she will pick interest to find out from the facility’s authority over their complaint and respond immediately.

Dr. Jackson Orem, the executive director (ED) of the Cancer Institute noted that besides challenges they are grateful to the city leaders for their proper monitoring of the construction.

He advised the city leaders to popularize, inform and link the center to Mulago National Hospital because this is an opportunity for them.

According to him, this is the time when leaders are still in offices with power to perform the duty for community.

With regular community engagements, the grass roots come to understand and be ambassadors of the center, he said.

Professor William Bazeyo, chairperson Board for the Cancer Institute said while the work is at 80 percent, we have to address all the minor problems before the time of completion and final commissioning of the facility.

The board chairperson promised that by mid-June 2024, “We expect the official commissioning of the center by the President Museveni Yoweri.

“We are working as board to discuss the non-citizens who will come to the center, to charge them as an alternative way of raising funds to support the center amid problems. But all Ugandans will be free of charge,” he revealed in an interview with this publication.

Peter Banya is the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (DRCC) of Gulu. He remarked that the Cancer facility is not about the building, but all about service delivery and care to patients starting from the gate.

He advised the center managers for immediate response when power blackout for proper follow-up with UMEME leaders.

Banya, together with city leaders, promised to work hand in hand with the head of the center to see that issue of power supply come to an end. 

The foundation for the Cancer Institute was laid in 2023 by Premier Robinah Nabanja, and is among the four regional cancer institutes in the cities of Mbale, Mbarara, and Arua.

According to the 2020 record from the Gulu registry, more than 1,320 from the north were diagnosed with cancer.

It is estimated that about 33,000 Ugandans are being diagnosed with cancer every year, with only 7,400 on care and treatment. 

Annually, 21,000 cancer patients die in Uganda.