Team of radiotherapy professionals shares its expertise to deliver long-term support for Uganda’s ongoing radiotherapy service improvements

The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is the only radiotherapy cancer centre in Uganda for a population of around 45 million people. The UCI has a vision to build a sustainable high quality radiotherapy service with a team of committed staff .Uganda’s Government has made a significant investment in radiotherapy services over the past years and the radiotherapy unit has three external beam radiotherapy machines, a CT scanner and a simulator. The government plans to build four regional radiotherapy centres to improve access for the population.

With the support of the Emirates Foundation and Climbers Against Cancer, head and neck oncologist Dr Katie Wakeham led a radiotherapy team comprising Sheffield Hallam University senior lecturer Jo McNamara, Claire Hardiman, SVL Naman Julka Anderson, Jack Doraiswamy and Toni Hewines to the UCI to help train and support the clinical staff. Dr Wakeham has been collaborating with the UCI team for many years.

McNamara reported on the visit: “It is not every day that six UK-based radiotherapy professionals pack their bags and day across continents to collaborate with colleagues in Uganda, but thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Emirates Foundation and Climbers Against Cancer, that’s exactly what we did.

“We arrived in Kampala full of anticipation, ready to listen, learn and share. Our main mission was to work collaboratively with the radiotherapy team to explore how we could improve accuracy, efficiency and patient experience in radiation treatments. What we experienced on the ground left an indelible impression on us all.

“We spent our days working through the radiotherapy pathway, from CT simulation to treatment planning and finally to delivery. We quickly realised that while the expertise and dedication of the UCI staff were phenomenal, the service is under resourced and the number of radiation therapists and oncologists is limited. Yet they work tirelessly under pressure to care for patients, many of whom arrive with late stage disease.

“Our aim wasn’t to impose, but to co-create realistic, sustainable improvements. We identified several areas where targeted training and education could significantly enhance radiotherapy techniques, but we recognised that change can’t happen overnight, especially in a system already stretched so thin. What is needed is long-term support, not just financially but in terms of mentorship, audit, evaluation and shared learning. One-time visits can spark ideas, but sustained collaboration is what turns them into action.

“One of the most emotional parts of our trip was treating a large number of paediatric patients. We identified some immediate improvements that could make a big difference: child-friendly waiting areas, distraction therapies and better immobilisation techniques to ensure safer, more accurate treatment delivery.

“We didn’t just talk; we listened and recorded. We created three Rad Chat podcast episodes with UCI radiation therapists, shining a light on their incredible work.

“One of our proudest moments was delivering a lecture on accuracy, precision and reproducibility in radiotherapy. It might sound dry to outsiders, but these concepts can literally mean the difference between missing a tumour or damaging healthy tissue. We highlighted practical ways to improve set-up accuracy and reduce the treatment of surrounding healthy organs.

What hit us hardest was the stark contrast to the UK. Patients lying on the floor waiting for treatment, families scraping together money for their treatment often decimating their entire family financially, the high number of patients with advanced disease. It was sobering but it also lit a fire in us to do more, to advocate more and to never take our own healthcare systems for granted.”

Lead picture: Jo McNamara (left) and the team of radiotherapy professionals who went to the UCI with the staff who work in radiotherapy.

Read this report on page 12 of the August 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.