At age 39, Ruth Namukwaya was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer while in the first trimester of her first pregnancy. Tragically, the diagnosis and subsequent treatments meant she could not carry her child to term.

“When I first heard the words ‘you have ovarian cancer,’ my world fell apart,” Namukwaya recalls.

“I asked if I would be able to keep my baby, but the doctors told me I could not. I was devastated. I felt fear, uncertainty, and a heaviness I cannot describe. In Uganda, access to treatment is not easy; traveling to the hospital, affording medications, and even getting timely diagnoses are constant struggles,” she adds.

Many women across Uganda have found themselves in Namukwaya’s shoes but have not been so lucky as to survive it like she did.

Ovarian cancer is quietly becoming a bigger health concern for women. More women are being diagnosed each year, and survival rates remain alarmingly low, especially in Kampala.

Doctors say the problem is not just the disease itself but also the fact that many women do not recognize the symptoms early enough, and health facilities often lack the specialists and equipment needed to act quickly.

Uganda’s overall cancer cases rose from about 27,000 in 2012 to nearly 36,000 in 2022. Ovarian cancer now ranks among the top five cancers affecting women, beaten only by cervical and breast cancer, but ahead of several others. In many parts of the country, the pattern is the same: more cases are being detected, but most are found out when it is too late.

With September being ovarian cancer awareness month, 44 year old Namukwaya feels that there is an urgent need to talk about the rising rate at which Ugandan women are getting infected and affected by it.

Why Survival Rates Are Low

A recent study showed that in Uganda, only 1 in 5 women survive five years after diagnosis, compared to, say, over 70% in Mauritius and other African countries. According to medical experts, the main reason is timing, stating that most Ugandan women are diagnosed when the cancer has already spread.

Early symptoms are often mistaken for minor issues. Persistent bloating, pelvic or stomach pain, feeling full quickly, or unexplained weight loss may not sound serious at first, but they are warning signs, and by the time women seek help, treatment becomes harder and less effective.

Barriers to Care

Ugandan health studies show that even after diagnosis, treatment often takes three months or more to begin. For ovarian cancer, those delays are deadly. The lack of a national screening programme, few trained specialists, and weak referral systems make the problem worse.

Still, there is progress. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) started a gynecologic oncology fellowship in 2017 to train more doctors in advanced surgery and cancer treatment. This is a vital step, but experts say it must go hand-in-hand with faster diagnosis and stronger community awareness.

What Needs to Change

Doctors and oncology medical advocates agree that improving outcomes for ovarian cancer in Uganda requires action in four key areas.

First, raising awareness is essential. Women should recognize symptoms such as persistent bloating, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and sudden weight changes and seek medical attention promptly.

Second, faster referrals are crucial to reduce delays between diagnosis and treatment.

Third, expanding the workforce by training more oncologists, anesthetists, pathologists, and nurses will increase access to quality care.

Finally, better data through strengthened cancer registries will enable Uganda to track trends more accurately and plan services more effectively.

Now 44 and a mother of two, Namukwaya continues to share her story to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and the challenges patients face.

She says she is deeply grateful for her life, and even though the loss of what could have been her first child was devastating, early diagnosis saved her life and eventually allowed her to have the family she always dreamed of.

“The support of my family, my two sons, fellow survivors, and a few dedicated doctors became my lifeline,” Namukwaya reflects. “I am so grateful for the chance to tell my story so other women know they are not alone and understand that early detection can truly save lives.”

Ovarian cancer may not be as well-known as breast or cervical cancer, but it is silently claiming lives in Uganda. With better awareness, quicker treatment, and more trained specialists, many of these lives can be saved.

For women, the most important message is this: do not ignore persistent abdominal pain, bloating, or sudden changes in appetite or weight. Early action makes all the difference.