The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga Alitwala pledges to continue supporting enactment of cancer control policies and laws. The speaker made the pledge on 20th April 2017 at Hotel Africana during the research dissemination meeting of assessment of clinical and psychological needs of Metastatic breast cancer patients, challenges and gaps in meeting their needs in Uganda. The research was carried out by Uganda Women Cancer Support Organization (UWOCASO).

"Cancer needs to be prioritized in the health sector development plan and the health sector strategic plan and investment plan", said the UCS Executive Director, Paul Ebusu. Ebusu noted that the Health sector development plan needs to state national targets and indicators to help measure progress in cancer control. The Executive Director was speaking during a plenary session organized by the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association held on 31st March 2017 at Uganda Cancer Institute. The plenary session under the theme: "demystifying cancer, causing awareness, fighting the stigma". Ebusu also appealed to Parliament to allocate a special budget for establishment of regional cancer centers to decentralize cancer services for access for all. Currently, cancer services are centralized in Kampala and mainly at the Uganda Cancer Institute. Ebusu further called on Parliament to consider budget allocation for the establishment of a national cancer registry. Currently, Uganda is using data from the Kampala cancer registry. But Ebusu noted that it is paramount to have a national registry for purposes of effective national planning.

Following their election into office, the newly elected BOD members have started conducting business. The BOD members who were elected on 24th September 2016 during the General Assembly Meeting held at City Royal hotel in Bugolobi assumed office on 12th October 2016. The BOD members include: Dr. Margaret Okello Nyeko, Chairperson; Dr. Sam Guma, Vice Chairperson; Evah Kabanda, Secretary; Ben Ikara, Treasurer and members including: Claire Judith Achieng, Rebecca Kiziri Mayengo, Albert Tusiime, Margaret Okello, Dr. Noleb Mugisha, Gertrude Nakigudde and Ms. Agnes Agwang. According to the UCS constitution, the BOD members will be in office for a term of 3 years and are eligible for re-lection for a second term. Meanwhile, the BOD members underwent an orientation to enable them undertake their roles and responsibilities effectively. The BOD orientation took place on 9th November 2016.

Uganda Cancer Society (UCS) in partnership with Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) with financial and technical support from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the John Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), have developed and launched cancer education materials for patients, caregivers and healthcare workers. Training on the use of, and launch of the cancer educational materials took place on 27th Jan, 2017 and 3rd Feb, 2017 respectively. These materials are free of charge and are intended to help, 1; patients understand and cope with cancer as they go through treatment, 2; care givers to understand and know how to care for their patients/loved ones and, 3; for healthcare workers to have information appropriate for sharing with patients and caregivers. These materials include a booklet for patients and care givers, and a teaching flipchart tool to be used by health workers, counselors and volunteers interacting with cancer patients.

The Uganda Cancer Society in partnership with Uganda Cancer Institute and the Ministry of Health commemorated the World Cancer Day and International Childhood Cancer Day 2017. This year’s theme for World Cancer Day which runs from 2016 is "We can, I can". The Union for International Cancer Control, (UICC), declared 4th February World Cancer Day. This is aimed at increasing cancer awareness to encourage prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer. In Uganda, the Cancer control family commemorated these days by holding several activities including a match past, information sharing with success stories from cancer survivors as well as visiting cancer patients in the wards. Speaking during the commemoration of World Cancer Day at Uganda Cancer Institute, the Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Achieng revealed that government plans to conduct a comprehensive research on cancer to provide accurate data which will inform interventions towards cancer control.

Meanwhile, 15th February every year is International Childhood Cancer Day and Uganda Cancer Society in partnership with Uganda Cancer Institute joined the rest of the world to commemorate the day. This year, the International Childhood Cancer Day was celebrated under the universal message: "Together for kids with cancer". As such, UCS and UCI marked the day with several activities including: red carpet moment which saw seven children walk on the red carpet and rang a bell to symbolize that they are cancer free, drama skit on cancer, signing of the solidarity banner, information sharing and a success story from a child who survived cancer. According to the World Health Organization estimates for Uganda, cancer causes up to 17,600 deaths each year. In 2016 alone, UCI received 4,000 new cancer cases and 45, 000 cases in total. At the Uganda Cancer Institute, about 65% of all cancer cases seen are infection related.

On the Left Cancer based organizations trained on permaculture gardening. UCS Executive Director making remarks and on the right Mr. Paul Ebusu actively takes part during the practical at the permaculture gardening workshop on 8th March 2017 at Hospice Africa Uganda