Uganda Cancer Institute
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ugandan women. The incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer in Uganda are higher than Africa and East Africa.
The Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) and the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) are the national referral centers for the entire country. There is one radiotherapy machine and limited chemotherapy is available at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
The morbidity and mortality caused by gynecologic cancers in Uganda can be reduced by unified efforts to provide patient education, access to care, early detection and screening programs, and effective treatment by properly trained physicians. The initial step to improve the care and management of women with gynecologic cancers is to train a critical mass of specialists in this field. This is the first gynecologic oncology fellowship in the country and the second one in East Africa.
Local Supervisors

Dr. Pius Mulamira completed the Mentorship & Training Program in 2021 and now serves as a local supervisor.

Dr. Mariam Nabwire completed the Mentorship & Training Program in 2019 and now serves as a local supervisor.

Dr. Jane Namugga
Dr. Jane Namugga is an Associate Consultant.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine (MBChB), a Master’s in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Makerere University (MMed OBS/GYN), and a Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology. She became the first formally trained gynecologic oncologist in Uganda in 2016.
Dr. Namugga serves as an internal mentor for the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program at the Uganda Cancer Institute under the IGCS Global Oncology Program.
She is passionate about training, research, and performing surgeries.

Dr. Julius Nkalubo completed the Mentorship & Training Program in 2021 and now serves as a local supervisor.
Dr. Julius Nkalubo is a Ugandan-trained doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, with subspecialty training in gynecologic oncology.
He is part of the second group of graduates from the IGCS Global Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). After graduating in 2021, he remained actively involved in the program, contributing to training and volunteering in clinical work at UCI. In 2022, he officially transferred from his previous workplace to UCI, where he continues to serve.
Currently, Dr. Nkalubo is the Deputy Director of the Fellowship Program at UCI. His continued engagement has fostered his growth as both a clinician and a mentor. He advises all graduates to stay connected to academic activities, emphasizing that gynecologic oncology is a delicate and dynamic field. He likens his practice to a moving bicycle: “You have to keep pedaling, or else you fall off.”

Dr. Martin Origa completed the Mentorship & Training Program in 2021 and now serves as a local supervisor.
Fellows
Dr. Charles Irumba
Dr. Erabu Walter Dreak
Dr. Richard Mulumba
International Mentors

Dr. Joyce Varughese completed her fellowship training in gynecologic oncology and residency in obstetrics and gynecology, serving as administrative chief resident, at Yale University. She received her medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York and her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard University.
She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (NJ) and at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine (PA), and received an excellence in teaching award from the OB/Gyn residency program at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. She has multiple peer-reviewed publications in Cancer, Gynecologic Oncology and other journals. Dr. Varughese is active in the IGCS, ACOG, and SGO. She currently serves as Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology NJ and Chair of the Department of OB/Gyn at Capital Health System in New Jersey, USA and is accredited as a Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Gynecology by the Surgical Review Corporation.
Dr. Stefanie Ueda
Dr. Joyce Varughese
Graduates from Uganda

Dr. Julius Nteziyaremye
Location: Uganda
Year: 2023

Dr. Joy Muhumuza
Location: Uganda
Year: 2023

Dr. Deazee Saywon
Location: Uganda
Year: 2023

Dr. Mubiru Musa
Location: Uganda
Year: 2022

Dr. Maryam Shaki
Location: Uganda
Year: 2022

Dr. Pius Mulamira
Location: Uganda
Year: 2021

Dr. Julius Nkalubo
Location: Uganda
Year: 2021

Dr. Martin Origa
Location: Uganda
Year: 2021

Dr. Jerome Katumba
Location: Uganda
Year: 2019

Dr. Mariam Nabwire
Location: Uganda
Year: 2019
Training Sites
Learn more about each training site and see who’s involved.