Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has pledged one billion Ugandan shillings to the Cancer Rotary Club of Kampala for the campaign against cancer through a cancer run initiative.
On Wednesday in Kampala, the initiative, spearheaded by Centenary Bank Uganda in partnership with Harris International and the Parliament of Uganda, aims to raise 4 billion Ugandan shillings. This effort includes purchasing cancer kits for the 13th Rotary Cancer Run scheduled for August 25th, involving 40 districts and various towns across Uganda.
The theme for this year’s cancer run is “Spread Magic in Every Step.”
As the chief guest at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, the Speaker also described on her formerly Twitter space that she presided over the launch of the 13th Rotary Cancer Run today. The goal is to raise 4 billion shillings to build a radiotherapy center at Nsambya Hospital, significantly improving cancer treatment in Uganda. She expressed gratitude to former Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, for initiating Parliament’s support for the cancer institute at Nsambya Hospital and commended all organizations joining the cause.
Rtn. Michael Niyitegeka, Chair of the Cancer Run 2024, stated, “This year, the run aims to double the number of participants from 30,000 to 60,000 as of 2023-2024, translating to doubling last year’s collections to UGX 4 billion shillings, a substantial contribution towards the required 13.8 billion shillings for the completion of the radiotherapy center at Nsambya.”
Centenary Bank Uganda’s Managing Director, Mr. Fabian Kasi, highlighted in his speech the bank’s dedication to improving community lives through impactful health interventions, including the collaboration with Rotary on the Cancer Run over the past 13 years. He noted the significant contributions made, such as the construction works for modern cancer treatment centers at Nsambya Hospital, expanding infrastructure, and increasing accessibility to crucial cancer treatment and care for Ugandans.
Kasi emphasized the continued threat of the cancer scourge worldwide, with rising diagnosis rates and limited access to cancer care centers, especially in remote areas. He stressed the importance of spreading treatment centers across the country to improve survival rates.
This year, Centenary Bank, along with the Centenary Foundation, is contributing 300 million Ugandan shillings towards the noble cause, reflecting their commitment to fighting cancer and promoting the welfare of the Ugandan people.