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Preventable toxins and low screening rates fuel cancer surge in Northern Uganda
2 April 2026, 12:38 pm
By Gift Okello
Health experts and local leaders are raising the alarm over a sharp increase in liver cancer cases across Northern Uganda, attributing the rise primarily to poorly stored food and preventable infections.
Officials from the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) have linked the regional surge to high levels of Hepatitis B and chronic exposure to aflatoxins—poisonous carcinogens produced by mould that grows on improperly stored crops such as grains and nuts.
Dr Fadhil Giriga, a specialist at the UCI, identified aflatoxin contamination as a major contributor to liver disease in the region. He noted that traditional food-handling practices, particularly storing produce for extended periods in damp or unsafe conditions, are inadvertently exposing thousands to lethal toxins.
Beyond liver health, Dr Giriga expressed deep concern over the underutilisation of breast cancer screening services. Despite the availability of a modern mammography machine at the facility, the number of women seeking early detection remains alarmingly low.
The UCI emphasised that, while the institute is fully equipped to provide life-saving screenings and treatment, the “silent” nature of the disease, combined with low public turnout, is resulting in a surge of late-stage diagnoses.
The health crisis has prompted a call to action from Gulu City’s political leadership. During a recent visit to the institute, Mayor-elect Acire Julius Labeja Gunya urged closer collaboration between public health interventions and scientific research.
He specifically called on the public to enforce stricter hygiene and storage protocols, adopt improved handling techniques to minimise mould growth, and remain vigilant about the quality of the food they consume.
Accompanying the Mayor-elect, the Gulu City Woman Member of Parliament highlighted the physical strain on the current facility. Noting the increasing influx of patients, she called for the urgent expansion of the institute, including the acquisition of additional land for infrastructure and staff housing, to better serve the region.
Authorities believe the situation can be improved through a multi-pronged strategy that combats stigma, encourages screening, and provides accessible care for those already affected.
As the burden of cancer rises in Northern Uganda, health experts deliver a clear message: prevention through proper nutrition and early screening is no longer optional—it is a matter of survival.