Uganda, May 11 -- After 55 years of waiting, Bugiri District has finally secured a diagnostic centre to help tackle the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.

Bugiri General Hospital, built between 1967 and 1971 under the Obote I government to serve Bugiri and surrounding areas, has operated without a diagnostic centre or major rehabilitation since it opened. Patients have had to travel to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, or even facilities in Kenya for tests and scans.

District leaders say the gap has worsened as non-communicable diseases like cancer, hypertension and diabetes rise alongside infectious illnesses.

"The rise in non-communicable diseases is attributed to smoking cigarettes, alcohol...